Civil Court Dismisses NBTC Defamation Suit Against Four Commissioners
Thailand’s Civil Court has dismissed a defamation suit brought by NBTC chairman Dr. Suran Bunbuchaichaiuek against four commissioners and a media firm, which sought 20 million baht. The court found the commissioners were acting within their official duties and their statements were not harmful. The ruling ends the legal battle over alleged reputational damage stemming from press remarks about the chairman’s conduct.
The Civil Court ruled that the four NBTC commissioners—Air Chief Marshal Thanaporn Raiyaruen, Professor Prirong Ramasutra, Associate Professor Suppachat Suppachalasai, and Associate Professor Somphop Phuriwirakornpong—along with Isara Thai Press Development Co., Ltd., were not liable for defamation. The court said their comments, made during a press briefing to the company, were legitimate criticisms of the NBTC chairman’s actions, such as unilateral appointments and failure to implement board resolutions, and were intended to prevent organizational errors. Consequently, the claim for 20 million baht in damages was denied and the case was dismissed.
