PTT Plc, the national oil and gas conglomerate, has filed a lawsuit against former finance minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala for allegedly using social media to damage its reputation.
Chief executive Pailin Chuchottaworn said the lawsuit had been pursued in the Civil Court in Bangkok since last week.
Members of the Federation of Consumer Organisations rally in front of the Finance Ministry yesterday, demanding it order PTT Plc to transfer assets back to the state. APICHIT JINAKUL
It requests that Mr Thirachai be charged for his recent Facebook posts alleging PTT had submitted falsified evidence to the Supreme Administrative Court regarding a gas pipeline case.
The gas pipeline dispute was begun in 2005 by activists led by former Bangkok senator Rosana Tosittrakul.
She filed a case against PTT in a bid to seek a court order to delist PTT from the Stock Exchange of Thailand and return ownership of the gas pipeline network to the Finance Ministry.
The Supreme Administrative Court ruled to uphold PTT's listing on the bourse but ordered a return of assets to the Finance Ministry, which controls 51% of PTT.
The court's decision related to the onshore portion of the pipeline network, while the offshore section was ruled as belonging to PTT.
PTT insists it completely complied with the court order by transferring the onshore parts to the Finance Ministry six months later.
However, activists continue to allege PTT has not yet transferred national assets in compliance with the order, as they believe the offshore pipeline must also be returned to the ministry.
And the dispute is not over yet.
The Energy Ministry has tried to find ways to end it by seeking the Council of State's interpretation of the court's ruling as to whether PTT is required to transfer the offshore pipeline also.
The suit claims the activists simply want to foster hatred towards PTT by providing the public with only half-truths.
Mr Pailin said his company decided to file suit against Mr Thirachai because he posted on his Facebook account that the company had submitted falsified documents to the court, which was an untruth.
Mr Thirachai has fought back, saying on his Facebook page that he recently submitted a letter to the National Council for Peace and Order requesting that the military look into the case while insisting on the factual accuracy of what he posted earlier.