Judges agree to ex-PM appearing as first witness.
Constitution Tribunal judges yesterday offered no objection to Thai Rak Thai's demand that former leader and ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra be allowed to appear as the party's first defence witness in the hearing on electoral fraud charges.
Tribunal secretary-general Paibul Warahapaithoon said it has agreed to Thai Rak Thai's request but added the final decision will rest with the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG).
The appearance of Mr Thaksin needed approval from the OAG, who is the plaintiff in the case, Mr Paibul said. If the OAG rejects the call, the case will continue without him as a defence witness.
The tribunal made known its position after Thai Rak Thai confirmed it had 99 documents to present and 77 witnesses, including Mr Thaksin.
The former prime minister has a right to defend his party, said Thai Rak Thai legal expert Wichit Plangsrisakul.
The tribunal is examining all evidence submitted by the three political parties accused of violating election law in the April 2 polls last year.
The OAG has accused Thai Rak Thai of hiring two small parties Pattana Chart Thai and Phaendin Thai to run in the April 2 elections to avoid the requirement of getting at least 20% of the eligible vote to take a one-candidate seat.
The tribunal will examine evidence submitted by the Democrat and Prachathipatai Kao Na parties today.
The OAG has accused the Democrats of hiring Prachathipatai Kao Na to make a false claim that it was paid by Thai Rak Thai to run in the elections.
The OAG asked the tribunal to dissolve all five parties.
Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin earlier suggested Mr Thaksin, currently in self-imposed exile in Beijing, should be called last when the political situation is more stable.
The tribunal yesterday set the period between Jan 6 and Feb 27 for the OAG to present its evidence. Thai Rak Thai will defend itself from March 6 to mid-April.
Bangkok Post
Thursday January 04, 2007
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