World
18:01, 17-Sep-2018
Thai police charge founder of new party over Facebook speech
Updated
17:23, 20-Sep-2018
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Thai police on Monday charged the founder and two members of a new political party opposed to military rule with violating a computer crime law, an offense that could result in a five-year jail sentence, a fine of 100,000 baht ($3,062.79) or both.
Just last week, Thai government lifted a ban to allow parties to organize ahead of a general election due by May.
Critics say the electoral contest will be set up to ensure the military continues to wield influence over Thailand's politics.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 39, founder of the Future Forward Party, and two senior party members were charged under the Computer Crimes Act, after reporting to a Bangkok police station, where they were questioned and fingerprinted.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit sits at Technology Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok, September 17, 2018. /VCG Photo
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit sits at Technology Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok, September 17, 2018. /VCG Photo
They are accused of giving false information in a June 29 speech by Thanathorn that was posted on Facebook.
Thanathorn, an auto parts billionaire and newcomer to the political scene, said he and his colleagues rejected the charges.
"The use of the Computer Crimes Act is used with the objective to silence us, threaten us, to make politics of fear happen in this country," said Thanatorn.
The Future Forward Party was launched this year hoping to attract young people and win backing from those seeking an alternative to military rule.
Police said they would forward the case to the attorney general within four months.
(Cover: Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder of Thailand's Future Forward Party, talks to journalists before he leaves Technology Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok, September 17, 2018. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): Reuters