On September 10, 2025, the public prosecutor indicted Mr. Witoon Lianchamroon, the Secretary-General of the BioThai Foundation, at Nonthaburi Provincial Court on two counts of defamation by advertisement. The case stems from an academic forum held by BioThai on July 26, 2024, titled “Environmental Disaster: The Case of the Blackchin Tilapia.” During the event, the foundation presented information allegedly linking CP farm in Samut Songkhram province to the spread of the blackchin tilapia, leading CP to file a complaint claiming the information was false, damaging the company’s reputation.
Mr. Witoon stated that he did not expect the prosecutor to proceed with the case, but now that he has been indicted, he is prepared to fight the case fully. He intends to prove to both the court and the public that the information presented at the forum was based on evidence and official data from various sources, seeing this as an opportunity for the public to learn the truth.
Ms. Chanchira Chanphaeo, the lawyer for Mr. Witoon and BioThai, affirmed that the legal team’s strategy remains the same. She stated that presenting the information was a sincere exercise of freedom of expression to protect the public interest, as well as the ecosystem and environment damaged by the blackchin tilapia’s spread. She added that they are not concerned about the case. The Nonthaburi Provincial Court has granted bail, with a bond of 30,000 baht for each of the two cases, totaling 60,000 baht.
A network of farmers and local residents affected by the blackchin tilapia outbreak also came to show their support for Mr. Witoon and BioThai. One representative said they felt they had to offer encouragement because Mr. Witoon’s struggle to reveal the truth is for the public good, which is a major issue concerning the environment and the future of their children. They hope to see justice prevail in Thai society.
The next step in the legal process is the pre-trial hearing for rights protection and defendant testimony, which the court has scheduled for October 22, 2025.