POLITICS / PARTY DISSOLUTION TRIAL

Tribunal hears of cash deal struck with TRT

MANOP THIP-OSOD

The leader of Pattana Chart Thai, a little-known political party at the centre of the April 2 election fraud case, admitted yesterday before the Constitution Tribunal that a deal had indeed been struck with then deputy Thai Rak Thai leader Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya in exchange for cash. Chavakarn Tosawat, the party leader, told the tribunal that the deal, made on March 2 last year, required that the party field candidates in the April 2 general election to help Thai Rak Thai.

His discussion of a deal with Gen Thammarak was witnesses by former deputy secretary-general of Thai Rak Thai Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, a woman he did not identify but said ran for a House seat in Nakhon Ratchasima, Theerachai Chulapat and Thawee Suwannapat, a close aide to Gen Thammarak.

Gen Thammarak told him he wanted Pattana Chat Thai to field candidates in Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Sa Kaeo and the southern provinces, said Mr Chavakarn.

On March 3, a day after the talks, Mr Chavakarn said he received 150,000 baht from the Thai Rak Thai party at the Defence Ministry's headquarters. That was the only payment made, as Thai Rak Thai refused to pay another lump sum it had promised the party, said Mr Chavakarn.

He first planned to petition the Election Commission (EC), but changed his mind as he doubted he could trust the former members of the EC.

Eventually, he decided to seek assistance from Suthep Thaugsuban, the secretary-general of the Democrat Party, said Mr Chavakarn.

After Mr Chavakarn's testimony, Mr Thawee was cross-examined and denied any involvement in the alleged deal between Gen Thammarak and Mr Chavakarn.

Mr Thawee said he was only a military-beat reporter and went to see Gen Thammarak on March 2 and 3 as a representative of a news organisation, not as a friend or a subordinate.

Mr Thawee also denied receiving any cash from Gen Thammarak or the Thai Rak Thai party.

Even though the video footage from a security camera at the Defence Ministry showed him receiving an envelope from Gen Thammarak on March 3, Mr Thawee said the envelope contained only a news release, not cash.

Bangkok Post
Wednesday January 31, 2007