Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has filed a defamation lawsuit against iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanont over remarks linking him to alleged collusion in the 2024 Senate election, insisting the legal action is not intended to silence his critics.
Mr Anutin, who is also leader of the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), assigned BJT legal chief Suphachai Jaismut, a list MP, to instruct lawyer Sitthichok Singhaseni to file the complaint at the Criminal Court on Tuesday. The lawsuit was filed a day after the Election Commission referred 77 suspects in the alleged Senate election collusion case to the Supreme Court’s Election Cases Division for criminal proceedings, including 26 sitting senators.
Mr Sitthichok said on Tuesday the lawsuit stemmed from an interview Mr Yingcheep gave at parliament on July 21, in which he allegedly said Mr Anutin was involved in the Senate election collusion case.
The case was filed in Mr Anutin’s name rather than on behalf of the BJT and alleges defamation by publication. The court has scheduled a hearing on Dec 14 to determine whether the case has grounds.
Mr Sitthichok said Mr Anutin disputed Mr Yingcheep’s claims and had therefore exercised his legal right to ask the court to determine whether the statements were true or false and whether they were made in good faith.
He also rejected suggestions that the lawsuit was linked to the EC’s decision on the Senate case.