Save of parliament has filed a lawsuit in opposition to another politician for using a photograph of him to mock him in a campaign poster. The picture exhibits the former MP of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, Sira Jenjaka, under a magnifying glass behind a Move Forward Party candidate with a message calling for volunteers to help catch those that had been cheating the polls.
Sira is suing the leader of the Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat, for doctoring his photograph and using it to mock him in addition to the by-election candidate featured within the campaign poster, Karunpol Thiansuwan, for his involvement.
Illusive says the poster is a violation of the Election of MP Act, adding that he hired a lawyer and will file a criticism with the Election Commission. He says he plans to demand a mixed 50 million baht in damages from Pita and Karunpol, and can defend his popularity.
Pheu Thai Party’s director for the Constituency 9 by-election, Sorawong Thienthong, says the celebration will dispatch observers to observe over the 280 polling stations across the constituency.
This is way from the primary time opponents of the Move Forward Party have taken legal steps towards its members. In September, the Thai military filed a grievance towards celebration member MP Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, accusing him of manufacturing faux documents. The paperwork had been titled “Royal Thai Army’s Information Operation.” The army alleged that the document misspelt the commander’s name and that the signatures weren’t actual, saying such errors wouldn’t have occurred if the paperwork had been authentic.
Sira lost his seat after the Constitutional Court ruling final December that declared he was unqualified to serve as a result of he was convicted of fraud back in 1995. According to the Bangkok Post, Thailand’s constitution prohibits those that had been convicted in a criminal case in Thailand from working for a House of Representatives seat..