Thread by @SaksithCNA

THREAD: There’s been some developments in the controversy of @Pita_MFP’s shares in a dormant media company, the subject of numerous complaints seeking his disqualification as MP and preventing him to became PM. These revelations could turn things in his favor. #หุ้นitv

https://twitter.com/saksithcna/status/1667370410621693952

1) Back to the start first: No candidate running for office must own shares in a media company (Const. Sec 98.3). Several petitioners (incl. a MP of the ruling PPRP) point to Pita’s possession of 42,000 shares in iTV Plc a violation of exactly that. #หุ้นitv

2) The petitions target Pita’s MP eligibility going all the way back to the last election in 2019, back when the party was still @FWPthailand - and dissolved in 2020 for its leader’s @Thanathorn_FWP possession of shares in a defunct media company. #หุ้นitv

3) However, the @EctThailand rejected those petitions because the EC has already approved the eligibility of MP candidates for #ThaiElection23. Instead it’ll probe Pita if he knowingly deceived the EC about his eligibility. #หุ้นitv

https://twitter.com/saksithcna/status/1667375391995224064

4) Pita held 42,000 shares from his late father in iTV, which is off-air since 2007 and its legal remains are practically dormant with no apparent activities that could classify as “media” whatsoever. These worthless shares have been transferred away at some point #หุ้นitv

5) The smoking gun was from a fmr @FWPthailand member who defected to BJT (he lost). He also inherited iTV shares and claims the FWP legal team didn’t see any problems. In April, he posted “a party head” held iTV shares, thus kicking off the petition against Pita in motion.

(It should be noted that the former FWP member in questions has repeatedly insisted that he’s not flagging this for political reasons or is engaging in a smear campaign or the likes)

6) Now the new stuff: Thanks to @thapanee3miti investigative work, we now know that a shareholder meeting of iTV’s legal remains says it has “no plans” to engage in media activities - which is the opposite of the meeting minutes and all evidence handed to the EC! #หุ้นitv

https://twitter.com/thapanee3miti/status/1667953854200303617

7) Now it gets interesting: iTV majority owner INTOUCH (AIS’ parent company, btw) has ordered an investigation into this discrepancy. Did they just misspoke or was false evidence submitted to the EC? #หุ้นitv

https://twitter.com/thestandardth/status/1668104248322826242

8) The EC has no officially launched its investigation against @Pita_MFP yet, but with these new revelations, he can argue that he couldn’t knowingly have broken the law because all along iTV hasn’t changed plans to become a media company again in years. #หุ้นitv

9) Conclusion: The hurdlers against @Pita_MFP and @MFPThailand, both political and legal, from forming the next govt remain. But one major accusation looks to be now on even more shakier ground that it already is thanks to investigative journalism - a legacy of iTV itself. (END)