Rival parties swap threats of legal action

Rival parties swap threats of legal action

The Bangkok governor race has turned ugly with the two main parties exchanging legal threats.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said he would discuss with party lawyers a possible petition to the Election Commission (EC) seeking the prosecution of Democrat Party list MP Watchara Phetthong for mudslinging against Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen.

Mr Watchara had asked the House committee on police affairs to probe a 10-billion-baht vehicle lease contract of the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO) which Pol Gen Pongsapat signed while he was deputy national police chief.

Mr Watchara said the contract value was too high for a deputy police chief to sign.

Mr Prompong said the lease started in the tenure of the Surayud Chulanont government and former national police chief Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong had authorised Pol Gen Pongsapat to sign the deal.

He said the lease issue was old news, raised by the Democrats to narrow his lead in polls which put him ahead of Democrat candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai list MP Weng Tojirakarn has asked the Bangkok election committee to investigate Democrat MP Sirichoke Sopha and Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut for posting manipulated pictures on their Facebook pages which he said tarnished the party’s image.

The pictures depict Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Pol Gen Pongsapat and Deputy Commerce Minister and red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar on a campaign vehicle with burning buildings in the background.

The images hark back to the street protests by the red shirts who support Pheu Thai and the ensuing fires at various locations in Bangkok in 2010.

Mr Sirichoke said the graphics were a form of art.

The Bangkok Election Countdown clock is available.

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