Thai Pakdee Party leader Warong Dechgitvigrom said yesterday he will accept the court’s decision on the 24-million-baht defamation lawsuit brought against him by the Move Forward Party.
On Sunday, Dr Warong posted on his Facebook page, saying, “Move Forward Party’s Pita Limjaroenrat sued me for defamation, demanding 24 million baht in compensation. The Criminal Court at Ratchada has chosen [June] 28, 9am, to deliver its judgement.”
The post drew comments from his supporters, to which he responded in a separate post yesterday.
“Thank you all for the moral support. If I were to be jailed or declared bankrupt because of my fight against [the charges of] insurrection and separatism, I won’t say a word but will continue to fight. See you at the Criminal Court at Ratchada on [June] 28,” he wrote on Facebook.
On Feb 11, 2021, Nathawut Buaprathum, a deputy leader of the Move Forward Party and now a list MP, filed two lawsuits on behalf of the party with the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road.
One lawsuit was against Dr Warong, and the other against Nathaporn Toprayoon, a former adviser to the Ombudsman.
The pair have been charged with defaming and making false accusations against the party in violation of Section 101 of the Political Party Act of 2017.
The Thai Pakdee Party leader was accused of damaging the Move Forward Party’s reputation during a media interview and through Facebook posts dated Jan 20, 2021 and Feb 3, 2021.
In addition to asking for a 24-million-baht compensation, the party also asked the court to order Dr Warong to stop engaging in actions which damage the party’s reputation.
The court will deliver its ruling on the case tomorrow at 9am.