Evidence indicates conspiracy behind case against Pita

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From The Nation

Intouch Holdings Plc on Monday ordered its subsidiary iTV Plc to investigate why the minutes from its latest shareholding meeting appear to contradict an audio recording of the meeting itself.

The minutes have been cited in a case that could see Move Forward Party’s leader and PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat banned from taking office.

The move by Intouch, which it reported to the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Monday, comes amid suspicion aired by Pita, his supporters and others that the share saga was concocted to prevent him from becoming the next prime minister.

The minutes were cited by political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana in his complaint to the Election Commission Office on May 9.

Ruangrai alleged that Pita was unqualified to contest the election because he held 42,000 shares in media firm iTV. The Constitution bars candidates from running for office if they hold media shares.

The minutes of the April 26 shareholders’ meeting record that Kim Siritaweechai, CEO of Intouch and president of iTV, was asked by shareholder Phanuwat Kwanyuen whether iTV was still operating as a media business. The minutes record that Kim confirmed it was still active in media.

However, in an audio clip released by former iTV reporter Thapanee Iadsrichai, who now works for 3 Dimension News, Kim can be heard replying that iTV no longer operates in the media business.

Pita posted on Facebook last week that iTV had not operated as a media firm since March 7, 2007 when its TV concession was terminated by the PM’s Office’s Secretariat.

Pita noted that the shareholder raised the question of iTV’s media operations just a few days before he applied to run as Move Forward’s party-list and PM candidate, suggesting he knew the reply or minutes would be used somehow later.

In its report to the SET, Intouch said it had ordered iTV’s management to conduct an urgent investigation as the minutes had drawn public attention. It said it would inform the SET of the investigation’s findings for the sake of transparency and good governance.

Continues at

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40028468

[EmmetK]

Thailand's press is still basically controlled by the government. Even by lax Asian standards, the press is not free to report stories unfavourable to the governing party.

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