Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate and former real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin has sued graft-busting crusader Chuwit Kamolvisit for defamation, demanding 500 million baht in compensation.

The lawsuit has been filed with the Criminal Court by Srettha’s lawyer, Winyat Chartmontri.

Winyat claimed to the media today (Monday) that Chuwit had defamed Srettha, former chief executive of the Sansiri property company, by accusing the firm of buying a plot of land in Bangkok for a condominium project and avoiding tax.

He claimed that Chuwit held a press conference at his hotel on August 3^rd, during which he allegedly made the accusation against the Sansiri company, in the full knowledge that parliament was scheduled to select the prime minister the following day and with the intention to mislead the public into believing that Srettha is not an honest man and should not be prime minister.

The lawyer explained that the land in question was co-owned by several individuals and, therefore, they were required to pay personal income tax individually and it was not subject to taxation as a legal entity, such as a limited partnership or a group of people, in accordance with Section 56 of the Tax Code.

The lawyer also said that he is aware of Chuwit’s health problems and would like to offer him moral support as a human being, but he maintains that suing him for defamation is a separate issue and does not constitute the bullying of a sick man.

Since the case is now in the judicial process, he urged the media to refrain from reporting or commenting about the case in any way which could be deemed to be defaming Srettha.