The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) has vowed to push for sanctions against Channel 3 and Sorayuth Suthasanajinda unless they heed calls to "show responsibility" after a court jailed the embattled TV news anchor.
ACT chairman Pramon Suthivong said Tuesday that social sanctions will be brought against the channel and Sorayuth if they fail to take any action.
"Sorayuth should show some remorse and step down from his role following the court ruling," Mr Pramon said.
He said the anti-graft advocacy group will campaign to ask its network of private sector companies to stop sponsoring the channel and Sorayuth's Rai Som Company.
He added that seeking a boycott from viewers is also on the cards.
- EDITORIAL: Sorayuth broadcasts defy decent ethics
ACT's members and allies include the Board of Trade, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Bankers' Association, the Thai Institute of Directors and the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations consisting of the Thai Listed Companies Association and the Association of Thai Securities Companies.
Despite mounting calls by media professionals for him to quit his screen role, Sorayuth appeared on his morning news programme as well as his evening news talk show as usual on Tuesday, while Channel 3 executives also decided to allow Sorayuth to continue hosting his programmes.
"If Mr Sorayuth were a state official, he would already be suspended from work," Mr Pramon said, drawing attention to corruption cases probed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
The state sector has disciplinary measures against officials found guilty of fraud or malfeasance charges. However, the private sector can only rely on the views and expectations of the public, Mr Pramon added.
Phakdee Photisiri, a former NACC member in charge of the probe into the Sorayuth case, compared it to those involving state officials that do not require a court ruling to suspend officials from work.
Once the NACC forwards its investigation report to the relevant agencies asking for sanctions to be considered against the parties found to have committed wrongdoing, they must take action within 30 days or face a charge of dereliction of duty.
"Corruption charges are considered as severe misconduct and a breach of duty," he said, arguing that the penalty should be him being taken off the air.
On his morning show, Sorayuth, who was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison and was released on bail, said he respected the court and its decision, but confirmed he would appeal.
Sorayuth and his company Rai Som were found guilty of cheating the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand out of more than 138 million baht in advertising revenue during his news talk programme on Channel 9 in 2005 and 2006 by bribing an MCOT employee to conceal records of extra advertising.
The executives of BEC World Plc, which runs Channel 3, decided to keep Sorayuth and his popular programmes for the time being, explaining that the incident occurred before Sorayuth started work with Channel 3, and that the case was not yet finalised.
They said the company knew Sorayuth well as they had worked together for 12 years. However, the company also stated they would monitor public sentiment regarding the issue.
Representatives of the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, the Thai Journalists Association and the communication arts faculty of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce on Monday afternoon called on Sorayuth to step down as a news anchor in order to show responsibility and uphold professional ethics.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association called on Channel 3 management to review the role of Sorayuth to set ethical standards for the Thai media.
They said that Channel 3's decision to allow Sorayuth to remain on air has affected not only the credibility and image of the channel, but that of the Thai media as a whole.
Although Sorayuth's case is to go to appeal, the ruling of the Court of First Instance proved there was enough evidence of Sorayuth's involvement in fraud, the statement said.
The case is a criminal offence as well as an ethical issue. Therefore, the public expects Channel 3 to demonstrate responsibility and set an ethical example by stopping Sorayuth from appearing on air temporarily until the case is finalised, it said.
A National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission subcommittee on television programme scheduling and content held a meeting Tuesday to discuss Sorayuth's case.
After the meeting, Phaisal Kuwalairat, a subcommittee member, said the meeting had not yet reached any conclusions on the issue.
The subcommittee will ask representatives of Channel 3 to explain the matter on March 7, Mr Phaisal said, adding that the subcommittee has no authority to ask Sorayuth to stop appearing on his programmes.
Wannee Rattanapol, Media Agency Association of Thailand president, said that companies which have placed advertising on Sorayuth's programme have started talking about their advertising plans. Some have decided to withdraw advertising from his shows.
However, she said the reaction would largely depend on the decision of Channel 3. If Sorayuth is banned, then much of the advertising would be definitely withdrawn, Ms Wannee said.