On 21 March 2026, Hathairat Phaholtap, editor-in-chief of the Khon Kaen-based outlet The Isaan Record, learned when a court summons was delivered that she has been sued for defamation by Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin over a Facebook post containing a report from The Isaan Record’s Facebook page about Thai officials accepting bribes from a Finnish berry-picking company in connection to the trafficking and abuse of Thai workers, along with the caption “Presenting evidence of politicians taking bribes from Berry Finland Co.”
The lawsuit seeks 50 million baht in damages. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled at the Criminal Court on 25 May.
On 22 March 2026, after The Isaan Record broke the news about the lawsuit, Suchart told the media that he intends to withdraw the lawsuit against Hathairat, saying that he originally ordered the lawsuit filed because the post was made during the election campaign period and could damage his campaign but has now realised that the post contained information forwarded from the Department of Special Investigation to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Hathairat has said several times since that she has not received a formal confirmation that the lawsuit was withdrawn.
On 29 March 2026, Kowit Photisan, an editor at The Isaan Record, learned that he has also been sued by Suchart for sharing Hathairat's post. The lawsuit is seeking 1 million baht in damages.