Bangkok: Suchart Chomklin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, has taken legal action against Ice Rakchanok, filing a defamation lawsuit through his lawyer. The accusation stems from claims made by Rakchanok alleging election fraud on the part of Suchart. A civil lawsuit seeking 50 million baht in damages is set to follow next week.
According to Thai News Agency, Suchart has authorized his legal team, led by Nattawut Wongniem, to present evidence comprised of Facebook posts made by Rakchanok Srinok. The posts, which accused Suchart of coming to power through election fraud and included derogatory comments, were made public on February 12th following the Election Commission's decision against recounting votes in the Chonburi District 1 election. The legal charges involve defamation and violation of the Computer Crime Act.
Nattawut Wongniem stated that the phrase "Khon Heng Suay," used by Rakchanok where "Heng" refers to Suchart's nickname, was misinterpreted. Although Rakchanok edited the comment last week, the original message had already been viewed by the victim, prompting the filing of the police report. Nattawut emphasized that Suchart has generally remained patient amidst criticism, opting to treat past accusations as minor issues until the election concluded. However, the recent post by Rakchanok has impacted public trust in Suchart, especially after the Election Commission's certification of election results was announced in the Royal Gazette.
Nattawut further clarified that the report was filed not to silence criticism but to defend Suchart's honor and dignity. He asserted that the issue arose from Rakchanok's actions, and without her provocative post, it would not have occurred. The legal team plans to pursue further charges should additional defamatory content surface. They are also gathering evidence to determine if individuals who shared or commented on the posts committed defamation. Next week, Suchart's legal team intends to file a direct lawsuit at the Ratchada Criminal Court, seeking civil damages of up to 50 million baht.