Welcome to a twist in the tale of Thai politics—a riveting courtroom drama featuring none other than the debonair former leader of the Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat. Picture it: July 18, a bustling parliamentary setting, cameras flashing, and Pita strides confidently through the corridors of power. But this isn’t just any day; he’s on a mission to testify before the all-seeing eyes of the Constitutional Court over a tale of shareholding intrigue hailing from the defunct broadcaster iTV—what a scene!
Mark your calendars for January 24, my friends, because that’s D-Day—or rather, Ruling Day—in the high-stakes media shareholding case against Pita, a man who’s gone from party leader to advisory chairman of the main opposition. The stage is set, and the court will soon deliver a verdict that could have Pita hanging up his MP hat for good.
What’s this ruckus all about? Well, imagine this: Pita, a beacon of parliamentary ambition, finds himself under the probing gaze of the Election Commission (EC), who allege that he may have trespassed Section 151 of the fabled Election Act. But wait—there’s a twist! An EC subcommittee actually advised ditching the charge, yet here we are, in courtroom limbo.
The cast of characters at Wednesday’s spectacle included Pita himself, the EC’s secretary-general, Sawang Boonmee, and Kim Siritaweechai of iTV deserving of an ensemble award. Their testimonies were like an intricate dance, leading the court to pencil in their ruling for a 2pm reveal on that anticipated January day.
Post-hearing, Pita emerges, a portrait of serenity; content and sporting a trusty confidence in the scales of justice. Moments before, he had arrived, armed with two bags brimming with documents—the paper shields of his defense. Pita, undaunted by the tumult, had eagerly awaited this day, ready to spill the factual beans of the iTV conundrum.
Clad in the armor of his narrative, Pita tells the media throng that iTV is nothing but a specter of a media firm, devoid of media business since ’07, its coffers filling from a different kind of interest—the investment kind. “Compared to past cases,” he assures with a twinkle, “iTV is not, I repeat, not a media stock.”
Our story wades deeper as Pita divulges a familial twist: the shares originated with his dear old dad. But fate’s hand led them to other kinsmen post the patriarch’s passing. “It has been 16 years,” Pita muses, ready to unleash his pent-up oratory upon the court. Meanwhile, his entourage uplifts him with embraces and placards—there’s love in the legal air!
Alas, not all has been smooth sailing; since July 19, the Constitutional Court had benched Pita, pressing pause on his parliamentary play. And amidst this kerfuffle, Pita ponders the EC’s probing intentions, pointing to documents that sing a clear tune: iTV, a broadcasting ghost, its media moolah days long gone.
But here’s a parting morsel to savor: Pita compares his dilemma to some 60 MPs in 2020, caught in the same shareholding snare. Yet, they roamed free while rulings loomed. Here’s to selective suspense, my friends! As the plot continues to thicken, will Pita navigate the treacherous waters of Thai political theatre, or will he be cast in the role of a tragic protagonist who lost his parliamentary pedestal? Stay tuned!
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