Lawmaker Defends Defamation Complaint Filing Rights Nationwide
A Phue Thai lawmaker defended his legal interpretation that defamation complaints can be filed in any province, disputing a civil rights organization's argument that such cases require filing in the jurisdiction where the alleged offense oc
Supachai Jaisamut, a Phue Thai party list member and head of the legal affairs working group, held a press conference before hundreds of media representatives on July 29, 2025, following iLaw director Yingchaiph Atcharanon's public statement citing Criminal Procedure Code Section 18 to argue that defamation complaints can be filed without geographic restrictions.
Supachai disputed iLaw's legal interpretation, stating that he finds their reasoning confusing. He argued that the organization has incorrectly equated defamation cases with theft cases, which must be reported in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. Supachai emphasized that defamation is fundamentally different and that complaints can be filed in any province.
Supachai criticized iLaw's approach, arguing that instead of quietly sharing the disputed information between the two parties involved—which would have kept the matter private—iLaw chose to issue an official press statement from a government podium. This resulted in the story being reported by hundreds of media outlets across online platforms, newspapers, and other channels, reaching the public throughout the kingdom, from Amnat Charoen to Ubon Ratchathani. He concluded that under these circumstances, a victim could legitimately file a complaint or lawsuit in any province of their choosing.
