Channel 7 journalist seeks support over libel charge
An assistant chief of the Channel 7 television station's news team is seeking help from various organisations after his work exposing alleged budget-use irregularities in the Samut Prakan Provincial Administrative Organisation resulted in him being charg
Sompoch Toraksa yesterday met with the chief of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT), the Thai Journalists’ Association, the Lawyers Council of Thailand, and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association.
His news coverage reportedly raised questions about the local administrative organisation’s Bt800-million budget for temples.
Sompoch yesterday said he had not accused any organisation of being corrupt, but just wanted to alert the public about abbots’ concerns about budget use.
“I will continue to do my duty,” he said.
ACT chief Pramon Sutivong said his organisation would look into how to help Sompoch and to prevent such cases from hurting the morale of people working against corruption.
“When media present news related to corruption, society pays more attention to corruption issues,” he said.
He said he wanted to see the public become more aware of anti-graft efforts.
According to Pramon, the case against Sompoch is now being handled by investigators and it remains to be seen whether it will go to court.
