Wed Sep 18 11:52:00 UTC 2024: ## Palang Pracharath Leader Sues TV Host, Rival Over Leaked Audio

**Bangkok, Thailand** – Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon is taking legal action against TV host Danai Ekmahasawat and former Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit for releasing voice recordings allegedly implicating him.

Gen Prawit’s party secretary-general, Paiboon Nititawan, announced the lawsuits on Wednesday, alleging that the two men obtained the recordings through illegal wiretapping and subsequently shared them with the media. The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine of 500,000 baht.

The leaked audio clip, one of four released on Sept 11 during Danai’s “Inside Thailand TV” show, allegedly features a conversation between Gen Prawit and Suttipong Juljarern, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior.

Prompong, who played the clip the following day while petitioning the anti-graft agency to investigate Gen Prawit, has also been targeted in the lawsuit.

However, Prompong continues to challenge Gen Prawit’s role as an MP, arguing that his frequent absences from House sessions violate constitutional requirements and ethical codes. He has requested that House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha review Gen Prawit’s attendance record and determine if he is fulfilling his duties.

Prompong dismissed the legal threats as an attempt to silence critics and challenged Palang Pracharath to identify which audio clips are genuine and which are doctored.

The lawsuit comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Gen Prawit’s attendance record. The 79-year-old leader, known for his weak health, rarely attends House sessions. Despite receiving a generous salary and benefits, he has maintained that those who need to speak with him can visit him at the Five Border Provinces Forest Preservation Foundation, a military-backed organization he chairs.

The legal battle is expected to further intensify political tensions in Thailand, with questions surrounding Gen Prawit’s commitment to his role as an MP and the potential for abuse of power continuing to be debated.

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