THAILAND’S top prime ministerial hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat is at risk of getting suspended after an investigation launched by the Election Commission.
The election body investigation centers around Pita’s controversial shares in iTV – which has not been broadcast in years and was delisted from the Thai stock market in 2014.
Under Thailand’s election law, politicians are not allowed to hold media company shares, and if found guilty, Pita Limjaroenrat could be banned from politics while facing up to 10 years in prison.
The PM frontrunner accused the Election Commission of abusing its power under the criminal code.
Last month, Pita said he has allocated 42,000 of those shares inherited from his late father, to other heirs to quash assumptions the media company will be revived and used for political means.
Pita Limjaroenrat assured he was in good spirits despite facing the risk of being suspended as a lawmaker as the whole country awaits the parliamentary vote on Thursday to decide on Thailand’s next premier.
Limjaroenrat is still eligible to run for prime minister in the event he will be suspended from his duties as a lawmaker, according to a report.
