Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who is increasingly popular among young voters, is facing a fresh legal wrangle over false information which appeared in his profile on the party's website - a violation which could see him banned from politics for 20 years.
The complaint was filed to the police Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), lodged by the NCPO's Judge Advocate General (legal) officer Col Burin Thongprapai.
It galvanised Thai social media. As of midnight Thursday, the hashtag #savethanathon (sic) was the top-trending item on Twitter, beating out the usual soap-opera trends.
Also trending for a time was #fahrakpor (Fah Loves Dad), which also refers to Mr Thanathorn, and has already been popular in the past few weeks.
There was similar social media support for Mr Thanathorn reported on Facebook and on YouTube channels.
Mr Thanathorn on Wednesday apologised for the false information on his biography. He said it was the mistake of party staff responsible for updating the information on the party's website. The party had no intention to deceive.
Col Winthai Suvaree, spokesman of the NCPO, on Thursday denied the NCPO was trying to rush the police prosecution of the trio. The case against them follows normal procedures, he said.
Mr Thanathorn is already facing a charge of violating the computer crime law after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) lodged a police complaint against him in what is seen by his supporters as a bid to thwart his political ambitions.
According to information on Mr Thanathorn's profile on the party's website, he served as the president of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) for two consecutive terms between 2008 and 2012. But after netizens checked, he disclosed he had never held such a post.
The false profile information remained on the website for five months until it was noticed by netizens recently leading to heavy criticism from his political rivals.
On Wednesday, information on his profile was corrected to show that Mr Thanathorn served as the president of the FTI's Nakhon Nayok chapter between 2007 and 2011. The false information which also appeared on Wikipedia was also changed on the same day.
Election Commission (EC) deputy secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee told the Bangkok Post that the EC's cyber search officials will check the Future Forward Party's website to retrieve any false information.
If false information is found and a complaint is lodged with the EC over the issue, the watchdog will then look into the motive for keeping the false information on the website for five months, Mr Sawaeng said, adding this could be deemed as an act of fraud and could violate Section 73(5) of the law on the election of MPs.
The section prohibits poll candidates from giving voters misleading information about poll candidates.
Violators are liable to a jail term of up to ten years and/or a fine of up to 200,000 baht, and they will have their rights to run in elections suspended for 20 years as stipulated by Section 159.
Jade Donavanik, a former adviser to the Constitution Drafting Committee, said the false profile information could violate Section 73(5) of the law on the election of MPs.
It remains to be seen if anyone will file a complaint against the Future Forward Party with the EC, Mr Jade said, adding the party should have corrected the false information immediately instead of keeping it on the website for five months.
Mr Thanathorn and two other executive members also face charges of violating the Computer Crime Act. Mr Thanathorn, acting registrar Klaikong Vaidhyakarn and the party executive member Jaruwan Sarankaet were accused of distorting information during comments streamed live on Mr Thanathorn's and the party's Facebook pages on June 29 last year.
Charges filed with the police Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) by the regime's judge advocate general's representative Col Burin Thongprapai (right in file photo) claim Future Forward and party leader Thanathorn posted false biographical information on the FFP's Facebook site.
The trio made comments about an alleged campaign to lure former MPs into the arms of the Palang Pracharath Party, which is said to be in league with the government.
They also claimed the regime had used existing lawsuits against these politicians as a bargaining chip to coerce them into defecting.
That complaint, also filed by Col Burin to the TCSD, accuses the three of inciting a public disturbance and violating the Computer Crime Act by making their remarks. All three of them denied the charges.
- Earlier report: Police seek charges over Facebook post
