Future Forward leaders fight computer crime charge

Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (centre) and two other party executive members, Klaikong Vaidhyakarn (left) and Jaruwan Sarankaet, meet technology crime suppression police on Monday. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)

Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and two other executive members met police to hear the charge of violating the Computer Crime Act on Monday.

The party leader, acting registrar Klaikong Vaidhyakarn and executive member Jaruwan Sarankaet went to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) to formally acknowledge the charge after postponing the meeting from Aug 24.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) filed a complaint against the three with TCSD for putting false information into a computer system. It claimed Mr Thanathorn had used his personal Facebook and party Facebook pages on June 29 to accuse the NCPO of luring former MPs to back the regime by using existing lawsuits against them as a bargaining chip.

The person who filed the charges and allegations, Col Burin Thongprapai, Judge Advocate General (legal) officer for the NCPO, did not appear.

TSCD police did not comment, only saying they needed to question the trio further. They also said they would forward the case to the attorney general within four months.

The three, who could face a fine up to 100,000 baht and/or a jail term up to five years if found guilty, denied the charge.

"The Computer Crimes Act is used to silence and threaten us and to create politics of fear in this country," Mr Thanatorn told reporters.

Since its launch this year to attract young people, the Future Forward Party has won backing from those seeking an alternative to military rule.