The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) yesterday denied allegations that its vice president, with the initial W, received a bribe linked to an illegal online gambling network.
Responding to the allegations, Wattanachai Yanintorn, the TJA's vice president for welfare and member relations, said he wasn't the TJA vice president with the initial W.
But Mr Wattanachai, who assumed the vice president's position on March 2, said he was the only TJA vice president whose first name initial was W.
Meanwhile, lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd, who made the allegations, said yesterday the bribe taker with the initial W is a former TJA vice president, not a current one.
Mr Sittra also said the former TJA vice president's bribe-taking was a matter of personal misconduct and wasn't conduct linked to the association.
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung, the TJA's secretary-general, said that even though a preliminary investigation conducted by the TJA found no links between the illegal online gaming network and anyone in the TJA, the association would welcome any further probe by an outside party.
The TJA doesn't hold a Kasikorn Bank account, as mentioned in the lawyer's accusation as being used to receive the bribe payment, said Mr Jeerapong.
He said the TJA has never received any payments in cash, either, adding the association only receives payments through bank transfers and cashier cheques.