Hanoi (VNA) - Thailand's police on September 17 charged thefounder and two members of a new political party with violating a computercrime law, an offence that could result in a five-year jail sentence, a fine of100,000 baht (over 3,000 USD) or both.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 39, founder of the Future Forward Party,and two senior party members were charged under the Computer Crimes Act, afterreporting to a Bangkok police station, where they were questioned andfingerprinted.

They are accused of giving false information in a June 29 speech byThanathorn that was posted on Facebook.

However, Thanathorn, a billionaire and newcomer to the political scene,said he and his colleagues rejected the charges.

The police said they would forward the case to the attorney generalwithin four months.

Thailand’s ruling junta on September 14 partially eased its ban onpolitical activities, paving the way for the general election scheduled to takeplace on February 24, 2019.

Under the decision, which was announced by Prime Minister PrayutChan-o-cha, political parties are now permitted to elect their leaders, recruitnew members and hold general party meetings if they are able to summon at least250 members. But, election campaigning, including holding public gatherings, isstill forbidden.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is in charge ofthe government’s legal affairs, said election campaigning would be allowedafter a law on the election is issued, possibly in December.

After the military staged a coup in 2014 to oust then Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra, a ban was imposed throughout the country on all politicalactivities. This included a ban on any public gatherings of more than fivepeople.-VNA