NBTC member corruption complaint thrown out

The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases has dismissed a high-profile dereliction of duties complaint against NBTC bigwig Pirongrong Ramasoota.

The ruling cited insufficient evidence to support the allegations.

True Digital Group, a faction of True Corporation, ignited the legal firestorm back in March, accusing Pirongrong of stirring up trouble by dispatching notices to 127 TV and radio operators, urging inspections of OTT broadcasting services following user complaints. The plaintiff argued that this move breached the law and could potentially scupper a programme True had in the pipeline.

Adding fuel to the legal inferno, True Digital Group further alleged bias and favouritism on Pirongrong’s part in executing her duties.

In a courtroom cliffhanger, Pirongrong vehemently refuted the accusations post the court’s verdict, pledging to furnish additional evidence in her defence within 30 days.

Marking a crucial date on the legal calendar, the court slated July 30 at 9.30am to scrutinise this fresh evidence. However, regarding the plaintiff’s plea to halt Pirongrong’s NBTC duties and chairmanship of the Broadcasting Business Committee, the court remained unmoved, stating the plaintiff failed to pinpoint specific transgressions against them, reported The Nation.

Consequently, the court ruled that there wasn’t ample justification to suspend Pirongrong from her duties.

In related news, an order from the Supreme Administrative Court may be causing ripples in the telecommunication sector. The court has asked the Central Administrative Court to accept a lawsuit filed by five individuals, aimed at nullifying the NBTC’s approval of the merger between True Corporation and Total Access Communication (DTAC).

In other news, National Telecom (NT), a state telecom company, faces a potential threat to its spectrums as the rights to three of its spectrum ranges are set to expire in September next year. The NBTC has been urged to devise a transparent plan to reallocate these spectrums, which are currently held by NT.