Democrats claim DSI conspiracy
- Published: 31/08/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
The Democrat Party claims a former executive of Messiah Business and Creation Co colluded with a former deputy chief of the Department of Special Investigation to make false accusations against the party in the case in which the party is alleged to have received illegal donations.
The Democrat Party claims a former executive of Messiah Business and Creation Co colluded with a former deputy chief of the Department of Special Investigation to make false accusations against the party in the case in which the party is alleged to have received illegal donations.
Lawyer Bundit Siripan, representing the Democrats, told the court yesterday that Prachuab Sangkhao, a former executive of Messiah Business and Creation, had "made a deal" with former DSI deputy chief Suchart Wong-anandchai to implicate the party. Pol Col Suchart is now an inspector-general at the Information and Communications Technology Ministry.
Mr Bundit asked Mr Prachuab about his meeting with Pol Col Suchart at the DSI office and questioned whether Pol Col Suchart persuaded him to work together against the Democrats.
Mr Bundit asked Mr Prachuab if he asked Pol Col Suchart to help redeem a house which he had mortgaged and was subject to foreclosure by a bank.
Mr Prachuab was one of three plaintiff witnesses for the Election Commission (EC) to take the stand in the third witness hearing at the Constitution Court yesterday.
The court also heard from Mr Prachuab's wife, Walailak, and Prachai Leophairatana, founder of TPI Polene Plc.
The focus of the Democrats' defence team was on Mr Prachuab.
The ruling party has been accused of accepting illicit donations amounting to 258million baht from TPI Polene, a cement giant founded by Mr Prachai, a businessman-turned-politician. TPI Polene is alleged to have given the Democrats the money through advertising agency Messiah Business and Creation in 2005, when Mr Prachuab ran the company.
The EC has accused the Democrats of violating the Political Party Act by failing to report the donation.
The money is believed to have been transferred to some members of the party, whose leader at the time was Banyat Bantadtan and its secretary-general was Pradit Phataraprasit.
The party faces dissolution if found guilty in the case.
Mr Bundit told the court during the cross-examination that Mr Prachuab was taken to a safe house in Pattaya where he was provided with protection by two police officers.
Mr Prachuab refused to respond to questions put to him by Mr Bundit. "I'd rather not answer," he told the court.
Mr Bundit then asked Mr Prachuab about his meeting with Chalerm Yubamrung, the chief of Puea Thai Party MPs, before March 20, 2009, when a censure debate was held in parliament targeting the Democrats-led coalition government.
Mr Prachuab responded that he would not answer the question for fear that he would be sued for defamation by Mr Chalerm.
Mr Bundit then disclosed information on the house which he said Mr Prachuab had mortgaged with Krung Thai Bank. The house is in tambon Bang Phud in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district.
The defence lawyer said Pol Capt Atthakawee Khunpinit bought the house at an auction organised by the Legal Execution Department for about 4 million baht. Pol Capt Atthakawee is a close aide of Maj Gen Manoonkrit Roopkachorn, a former senate speaker.
Mr Bundit then asked if the money to buy the mortgaged house came from the Puea Thai Party. Mr Prachuab replied that he was not aware of the source of the money.
However, he did admit that he was now living back in the house and he planned to buy it from Pol Capt Atthakawee if and when his business became a success.
Mr Prachuab said Pol Capt Atthakawee bought the house because he felt sorry for him.
Mr Prachai was then called to the witness stand, where he told the court he had never met Mr Prachuab before.
He met him for the first time at the court, Mr Prachai said.
Mr Prachai said he had not made any donations to the Democrat Party and had only met Mr Banyat because he wanted his party to help push for amendments to certain legislation.
A fourth witness due to give evidence yesterday, Thongchai Dolsrichai, sought a postponement. Mr Thongchai is a cousin of former Democrat secretary-general Pradit Phataraprasit.
Sounds like the same kind of deal university students make when they want a better grade! If you do this for me now, I will do this for you later. So typical. Grow up and act like a responsible adult!
