Bangkok: Koravee Prisnanantakul, a Member of Parliament for Ang Thong from the Bhumjaithai Party, has confirmed his intention to sue Yingcheep Atchanon to protect his dignity following allegations of collusion in the Senate election. Koravee firmly maintains that there is no evidence to support these claims and questions whether he would need to defend himself if accused of unrelated activities, such as involvement in forex trading or inciting student protests.
According to Thai News Agency, the controversy arose when Yingcheep, project manager of the Internet for People's Law (iLaw), disclosed evidence related to the Senate collusion case, implicating Koravee among others. On July 23rd, Paradorn Prisnanantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and also named in the allegations, was informed of these claims. Koravee stated that the Bhumjaithai Party is considering legal action for all nine individuals implicated by these allegations. He expressed surprise at the lack of evidence, noting that Yingcheep himself later admitted the claims were based on hearsay. Koravee emphasized the importance of fair scrutiny of public figures but cautioned against defamation and false accusations that mislead the public.
Koravee further commented on the situation, saying that he initially thought the implicated individuals would present new information to Parit Wacharasindhu, a list MP from the People's Party. However, he found that the information was outdated, raising questions about the motives behind the current actions. Koravee speculated on whether these movements were politically driven rather than focused on genuine investigation. He stressed the need for legitimate and accurate scrutiny of politicians, free from hidden political agendas.
Addressing potential Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), Koravee argued that if state power were used to silence truth-revealers, it would indeed be considered a SLAPP lawsuit. However, he noted that Yingcheep's admissions of lacking evidence and causing harm justified the legal action to protect the rights and dignity of those involved. Koravee drew parallels with hypothetical accusations against Yingcheep, questioning how he would respond to unfounded allegations.
When asked about the specifics of Yingcheep's accusations, Koravee admitted he hadn't detailed knowledge of others' involvement. Regarding his own situation, he clarified that the allegations against him lacked evidence, such as video or audio clips or evidence of money transfers. He expressed confusion at being implicated and emphasized that the accusations did not align with his true intentions, suggesting they were politically motivated rather than aimed at ensuring transparency.