Thaksin Shinawatra has sued Thai Pakdee Party leader Warong Dechgitvigrom for 100 million baht for an allegedly defamatory remark linking the former PM to a 2-billion-baht bribe.
Winyat Chartmontree, Thaksin's lawyer, filed the suit yesterday.
This came after Dr Warong turned to Facebook and TikTok and addressed a rally at Chamai Maruchet Bridge near Government House, implicating Thaksin in the purported bribe.
Even though Dr Warong did not mention Thaksin by name, the subject of the finger pointing was quite clear, according to Mr Winyat.
Dr Warong posted on his Facebook page on June 12 that 2 billion baht was being paid by a casino owner in Hong Kong to secure the release on bail of a prominent political figure who was being charged with a serious crime.
In May, a senior justice official flew to Hong Kong as part of the group arranging the bribe, Dr Warong alleged.
He added the casino owner agreed to pay the bribe in exchange for the right to open a casino in Thailand if and when gambling is legalised here.
On June 17, the Court of Justice informed the Judicial Commission (JC) of the allegation involving a high-ranking justice official. The JC has asked the Supreme Court to consider appointing a fact-finding panel to look into it.
Yesterday, Mr Winyat denied that the lawsuit was meant to gag Dr Warong and described it as Thaksin's rightful course of action to defend his name.
Thaksin is demanding 100 million baht in damages. The court has set a lawsuit examination date of Sept 30.
