BANGKOK, Jan 25 – Thai Constitutional Court on Wednesday has ruled in favour of former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat in the media shareholding case, saying that his member of Parliament (MP) status is not terminated according to the constitution, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.
Pita was accused by the Election Commission (EC) of violating electoral laws for holding shares in iTV pcl. when he registered his candidacy to run in the May 14 election last year. The election law prohibits politicians from holding media shares.
The EC submitted the petition to the Constitutional Court to rule on the case. The court accepted the case for deliberation, and on July 19, suspended Pita, who was then the MFP leader and a prime ministerial candidate, from his duties as an MP until the court issues a judgment.
The Constitutional Court found him not guilty, pointing out that iTV did not receive a licence to operate a television broadcast.
During deliberations, the court determined that although iTV has ceased operations and is currently involved in a legal dispute with the Office of the Prime Minister, it had entered into a contract with the office in 1995 for a period of 30 years.
However, later, the Office of the Prime Minister terminated the contract, and iTV notified the Social Security Office that it had no employees due to the temporary cessation of operations since March 8, 2007, up until the present.
This cessation was attributed to legal issues and the financial situation of the television company, which was previously engaged in television advertising but lacks financial records in this regard. Consequently, it is considered that the company has not conducted any business activities.
Pita had previously stated that he inherited shares from his late father, and these shares were listed under his name as he served as the executor of his father’s estate.
Following the court’s ruling Wednesday, Pita is anticipated to return to Parliament and resume his duties as an MP.
