BANGKOK, The Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat in the media shareholding case, saying that his MP status is not terminated according to the constitution.
The court found him not guilty, pointing out that iTV did not receive a license to operate a television broadcast.
The court deliberated and found 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 in 2007 until the present.
This is due to legal issues and the financial situation of the television company, which used to operate in television advertising but has no financial records in this regard. Consequently, it is considered that the company
has not conducted any business activities.
Pita was accused by the Election Commission (EC) that he violated the electoral law for holding shares in the iTV pcl. when he registered his candidacy to run in the May 14 election last year. The election law prohibits politicians from holding the media shares.
The EC submitted the petition to the Constitution Court to rule on the case. The court accepted the case for deliberation and on July 19, suspended Pita, then MFP leader and prime ministerial candidate from duties as an MP until the court issues a judgment.
Pita earlier said he inherited shares from his late father and the shares were listed under his name as he was an executor of his father’s estate.
Pita is expected to return to Parliament to resume his work as an MP after the court’s ruling today.
Source: Thai News Agency