TRT decides against new libel charges

The Nation

November 22 , 2005 - The legal team of the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party agreed yesterday not to press additional defamation charges against outspoken media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul for his latest allegations against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, one of the lawyers said.

However, the legal team would closely check the content of Sondhi's talk show "Muang Thai Rai Sapda" [Thailand Weekly], said lawyer Thana Benjathikul, who represents the TRT leader in three defamation cases against Sondhi and his company demanding a total of Bt2 billion in damages.

Thana yesterday called a meeting of TRT legal staff to consider filing a libel suit with the Criminal Court arising from allegations made during Sondhi's talk show last Friday.

"We won't file additional libel suits against him. The TRT spokesman's staff and key party members explained the matter to the public on Sunday," Thana said. He added, however, that a criminal lawsuit would be filed against Sondhi and his media company in addition to a civil suit filed last Thursday demanding Bt1 billion in compensation for alleged defamation of Thaksin by Sondhi.

Thana said yesterday that Thaksin's legal team would not consider suing other newspapers at the moment for possibly defamatory articles. "We are already tired of fighting with Sondhi," he told The Nation, laughing.

He said the party would not provide legal staff for Monthatip Kovit-charoenkul, who is Thaksin's sister, and Yan Bin, a Chinese-Thai business tycoon. Sondhi alleged that Monthatip used a military C-130 transport plane to fly friends and relatives from Bangkok to her birthday party in Chiang Mai. Yan Bin was cited by Sondhi as a link between the Thai Rak Thai Party and the Communist Party of China.

"Let them [Monthathip and Yan Bin] file libel suits with the court because Sondhi made the allegations against them, not against the premier," Thana said.

Kesinee Jaikawang

More Report

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