Jatuporn to sue Democrats over censure claims
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Pheu Thai MP and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan said yesterday he would take legal action against the 154 Democrat MPs who supported the censure motion against Justice Minister Pracha Promnok that also accused Jatuporn of involvement in irregularities
Jatuporn said he would file a complaint this week with the Crime Suppression Division against the Democrat MPs, including party and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, for allegedly filing false information and defamation.
He would also file a civil case but had not made up his mind about the amount of damages he would seek. The matter would be discussed with Pheu Thai’s lawyers.
The outspoken politician claimed that Democrat MPs unfairly accused him during Sunday’s censure debate.
“The Democrats were not well prepared for the censure debate. They made false allegations against me. I am not a Cabinet member but I was accused of corruption and embezzlement,” Jatuporn said.
“This will be the first time that all the proponents of a no-confidence motion will be sued,” he said.
During the debate, opposition MPs accused Jatuporn and other MPs from the ruling party of making personal and political gain from procurement of flood relief supplies and claiming credit for items donated or bought with taxpayers’ money.
Pracha, as head of the government’s Flood Relief Operation Centre, was the main target of the no-confidence debate. But he managed to survive the post-debate vote yesterday morning, receiving 273 votes of support, against 188 votes in favour of the motion.
Jatuporn said he bought the bottled water kept at the FROC and labelled as his, adding that he had a receipt for 722 packs of water. Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha suggested during the debate that Jatuporn made credit that he did not deserve.
Jatuporn also defended fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra against opposition MPs’ accusation that he claimed credit for flood relief supplies donated by the public. He said Thaksin spent Bt7.48 million on more than 2,100 boats for flood victims. He said the former premier also bought rice and relief kits worth more than Bt2 million – and there were receipts for all the items bought.
When asked if Thaksin would also sue the opposition MPs, Jatuporn said there would be a discussion about the matter.
