Suchart withdraws lawsuit against media over allegations of receiving foreign money related to berry labor, emphasizing he acted with sincere intent.
Suchart Chomklin, Member of Parliament for Chonburi from the Bhumjaithai Party, revealed he has authorized lawyers to withdraw the defamation lawsuit against Hathairat Paholthap, Executive Editor of The Isaan Record, regarding news coverage of bribery allegations involving berry labor. The withdrawal is scheduled for Monday, 23 March 2026 GMT+7.
In principle, there was never an intention to sue the media. However, the issue arose during the election period, affecting campaigning. Legal advisors deemed it necessary to act to protect rights. Upon reviewing the news content, it was found to reference information from government agencies, specifically data that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
If the news reporting was done in good faith and based on information from independent oversight bodies, there is no desire to pursue legal action further. Suchart reiterated that the election has concluded and expressed a wish to see the media perform their duties impartially, presenting well-rounded information.
"I never wanted to sue the media. This case has been ongoing for over two years and remains under the NACC's process. After legal review of the media’s explanations, it was seen as reporting according to independent organizational procedures. Therefore, I have decided to withdraw the lawsuit, as there is no intention to silence the press," he said.
Regarding the berry labor allegations, Suchart stated they should be allowed to proceed through the legal process. He also emphasized that during his tenure as Minister of Labor, he has performed his duties with dedication to improving welfare and the quality of life for workers.