Former House speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat on Monday morning filed two defamation lawsuits against TV news chat show host Chuvit Kamolvisit and others over broadcasts linking him to alleged criminal activities.
In the first lawsuit, Mr Yongyuth accused Mr Chuvit and his two co-hosts, Pasit Apinyawat and Pitchayatan Chanput, of defamation in connection with their show broadcast on Channel 33 HD.
BEC Multimedia Co, operator of Channel 33 HD, was also named in the lawsuit.
In the second case, Mr Yongyuth, a leading politician in the northeastern province of Chiang Rai, sued Mr Chuvit and co-host Aratchporn Chaladol for defamation over content in a programme broadcast on Thairath TV. Triple V Broadcast Co, operator of Thairath TV, was also named in the lawsuit.
The lawsuits were triggered by two television programmes in which Mr Yongyuth's alleged links with Chiang Rai Football Club and alleged illegal activities in relation to financial aspects of Victoria's Secret massage parlour were discussed.
Udom Prongfah, Mr Yongyuth's lawyer, said the charges were laid to protect Mr Yongyuth's reputation against false accusations made by Mr Chuvit and others in their shows.
Yongyuth Tiyapairat
He said his client had nothing to do with the football club and moreover he had never collaborated with anyone in laundering money or manipulating stocks. He challenged Mr Chuvit to prove his accusations in court.
The Criminal Court accepted the first lawsuit for preliminary hearing on June 4 and the other for preliminary hearing on June 11.
Mr Udom said his client would also file suit on Friday against the same parties in the Civil Court for defamation and demand 200 million baht in damages.
He said this legal action was being taken to encourage media outlets to examine the facts and give fair treatment to people mentioned in their reports.