Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and two other executive members yesterday met Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) police to hear charges of violating the Computer Crime Act.
Mr Thanathorn, acting registrar Klaikong Vaidhyakarn and the party executive member Jaruwan Sarankaet were accused of distorting information during comments streamed live on Mr Thanathorn's and the party's Facebook pages on June 29 this year.
The trio made comments about an alleged campaign to lure former MPs into the arms of the newly registered Phalang Pracharat Party, which is said to be in league with the government. They also claimed the regime had used existing lawsuits against these politicians as a bargaining chip to coerce them into defecting.
In the complaint, lodged by the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) legal officer Col Burin Thongprapai, the three allegedly incited public disturbance and violated the Computer Crime Act while making their remarks.
The three denied the charges and said they would submit written statements to the investigators within 45 days. Yesterday's meeting with the TCSD police had previously been postponed from Aug 24.
Mr Thanathorn said afterwards that he would continue communicating with party supporters via social media because it is the cheapest but most powerful channel to spread the party's ideology.
He criticised the Computer Crimes Act and said the party, if it has a chance to join a future government, would seek to amend a law which is all too frequently exploited to intimidate dissenting political voices into silence.
He added that while similar laws are used to protect key infrastructure from cyber attacks in other countries, in Thailand the act is used to protect those in power.
TCSD police said yesterday they would wait for the written statements from the accused before taking further action.
The three face a fine of up to 100,000 baht and/or a jail term up to five years if they are found guilty.
Mr Klaikong said yesterday that despite the charges, the party would continue to raise funds, recruit members and communicate through social media.
He noted that the status of Future Forward as a political party is expected to be endorsed by the Election Commission sometime next month.
