Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has resolved unanimously to dismiss three complaints filed against Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, accusing him of holding 42,000 shares in iTV, a media company.
In rejecting the three complaints, one of them initiated by serial petitioner and political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, the EC explained that the complaints were lodged beyond the time limits and, as such, could not be accepted for consideration.
The EC also said, however, that there are factual and behavioural details in the complaints providing sufficient evidence to initiate a probe to determine whether Pita was fully aware that he was unqualified to contest the election when he registered his candidacy, which would constitute a violation of Sections 42 (3) and 154 of the MP Election Act.
Meanwhile, Pita told the media that he had not yet been notified by the EC about its ruling.
He said that his case is similar to that of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, his predecessor and former leader of the now defunct Future Forward party, as both of them were accused of owning shares in media firms.
Nonetheless, he says is confident that he will not end up like Thanathorn, who was stripped of his parliamentary status and banned from politics, adding that he is open to scrutiny, both before entering politics and upon leaving politics.