According to Pita, who is also running for prime minister in the 2019 general election, his late father bequeathed him 42,000 shares in the media corporation ITV Plc, each worth 5 baht.
He continued by saying that he had “long ago” informed the National Anti-Corruption Commission of the shares.
Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana raised the issue earlier on Tuesday and urged the Election Commission (EC) to take into consideration disqualifying Pita for violating the constitution by owning media shares.
The activist emphasized that owners or shareholders of media companies are not permitted to participate in national elections under Article 98(3) of the Constitution.
Pita was shareholder number 6,121 and had 42,000 shares as of April 7 of this year, according to Ruangkrai, who claimed to have reviewed ITV’s shareholders list.
Additionally, he said that when Pita reported his assets after becoming a member of parliament on May 25, 2019, he left off the shares of ITV.
Pita stated in a tweet on Tuesday that it is understandable that some people would wish to stop Move Forward due of its growing popularity. I implore party candidates, employees, and all supporters to reject these absurd accusations. As of right now, nothing can halt Move Forward, so please concentrate exclusively on the election.
The Nation contacted a court judge on Tuesday to get further information.
The judge ruled that a heritage manager is not regarded as a shareholder and is only permitted to vote for directors at regular shareholder meetings.
The phrase “in the capacity of heritage manager” was missing from Pita’s name in ITV’s shareholders list, which led the judge to conclude that he was a shareholder rather than a heritage manager.
However, the judge said, the missing phrase can be viewed as a printing mistake.
The Constitutional Court barred Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the head of the Future Forward Party, from serving as an MP in November 2019 because he owned stock in the media company V-Luck Media.
Most of the former party members, including Pita, joined Move Forward Party after the party was dismissed by the court in 2020 for breaking donation laws.
