iLaw Director Petitions Supreme Court to Dismiss Defamation Case Filed by Prime Minister
Yingcheep Atchanont of iLaw has requested the Supreme Court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, arguing the case constitutes a strategic lawsuit against public participation.
On October 29, 2026, Yingcheep Atchanont, Director of the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), submitted a formal request to the President of the Supreme Court. He is seeking the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul. The legal dispute stems from a July 21, 2026, press conference where Yingcheep urged the opposition to investigate potential government involvement in alleged corruption during the 2024 Senate elections. Following these statements, the Prime Minister authorized Supachai Jaismut to file charges of defamation and defamation by publication under Sections 326 and 328 of the Criminal Code.
Yingcheep argues that the lawsuit is an act of bad faith intended to intimidate citizens who expose corruption, citing the 2026 Supreme Court guidelines on preventing abusive litigation. For residents and observers, this case highlights ongoing tensions regarding freedom of speech and the use of defamation laws in political discourse. The situation remains a matter for the judiciary to decide, as the court must now determine whether the Prime Minister’s legal action aligns with the guidelines against malicious prosecution. No final ruling has been issued, and the legal proceedings are ongoing.
