Bhumjaithai MP for Ang Thong Korrawee Prisananantakul on Monday authorised his lawyer to file a defamation complaint against iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanont over allegations linking him to the alleged Senate election collusion case.
Mr Korrawee said he decided to pursue legal action because the allegations affected not only him personally but also the party, where he serves as an executive member.
He said the allegations contained no new information and that he had already provided an explanation to the Election Commission (EC) as a person accused of wrongdoing, not as a suspect.
Mr Korrawee said he was confident the EC would consider the case fairly based on facts and evidence.
"We maintain that we are innocent and have done nothing wrong, but some people have already judged us. We simply ask for fairness. We are ready to cooperate with the EC and have nothing to worry about, but we want the case to be decided based on evidence," he said.
People's Party list-MP Parit Wacharasindhu said on Monday that the defamation complaint filed against him would not deter him from continuing to scrutinise the alleged Senate election collusion case.
In a social media post, Mr Parit said Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri had assigned his lawyer to handle the complaint against him in Bueng Kan province.
Mr Parit also presented information relating to the Senate election, which he claimed raised public questions about whether Mr Songsak was aware of or involved in the alleged collusion.
The defamation complaints came after Mr Yingcheep submitted a petition against Mr Parit, the opposition chief whip, seeking an inquiry into the alleged involvement of nine senior BJT politicians in the case.
Those named include Mr Anutin, Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and several cabinet ministers and senior party figures.
