By Linda Khoo
BANGKOK, April 24 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Thailand’s rising political star, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been accused of violating election laws by holding a media company’s shares during the March 24 General Election.
Election Commission Deputy Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee said there is grounds to charge the 40-year-old leader of the Future Forward Party.
He said there was a complaint filed against the Future Forward Party leader that he held 675,000 shares in V-Luck Media Company.
Local media reported that Thanathorn denied breaching electoral laws saying that he sold the media shares on Jan 8, before he registered as a candidate for the general election.
On April 6, Thanathorn was charged with sedition in an anti-junta rally dating back to 2015.
Thanathorn is also facing another two charges, of violating Article 189 for assisting others who committed a serious crime and Article 215 for taking part in an illegal assembly.
He could face nine years in jail if found guilty.
Thanathorn also faces a separate cybercrime charge over a speech he made on Facebook criticizing the junta in July.
According to the electoral laws, a criminal conviction could spell electoral disqualification for politicians.
The youth-oriented FWP showed a strong showing in General Election and won 6.2 million votes and 30 constituency seats.
NNN-BERNAMA
