The panel was investigating accusations against Thai Rak Thai Party executives of hiring small parties to run in the April 2 general election.

Vichit Plangsrikul, a Thai Rak Thai Party legal expert, said the investigation procedure by the EC panel was not in accordance with Article 19 of the Election Act because the suspects were not given the chance to defend themselves in person or in letter.

Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Thamarak Isarangura and party secretary-general Pongsak Ruktapongpisal were implicated in hiring small parties to run in the election.

The party decided they would file complaints with the EC on Monday questioning why the confidential state information was leaked and if the findings leaked to the media were authentic.

Thai Rak Thai Party spokesman Sita Divari complained that the panel had reached its findings without taking into consideration the evidence submitted by his party, such as the VCD that showed that a key witness, Thitima Pawasi, had been coached in his statements.

Sita said his party also had evidence that the Democrats had hired small parties to boycott the election.

He said that along with the VCD, his party had a transcription of a conversation between Thaikorn Polsuwan, a Democrat Party representative, and Wannawarit Tantipirom, the leader of the Better Life Party, at a Bangkok hotel.

He said the EC had used only circumstantial witnesses, traders outside the Thai Rak Thai Party's headquarters, to reach its findings.

Thai Rak Thai Party executive board member Ekaporn Rakkwamsuk condemned Phujadkan's website for its coverage of the findings even though the case is not yet finalised.

Meanwhile Democrat Party executive member Sathit Wongnongteoy threatened to sue those involved in accusing his party of hiring small parties to boycott the election.

"If the VCD that Thai Rak Thai members are using as evidence accusing us is fabricated, we can sue them," he said.

He questioned why the VCD had ended up with the Thai Rak Thai Party and why the EC had this VCD without having any complaints filed against the Democrats.

He demanded that television Channel 5 take responsibility for allowing former Thai Rak Thai Party MP Chakrapan Yomchinda to show the VCD to divert public attention from Thai Rak Thai.

Democrat Party deputy secretary-general Thaworn Senneam said Thamarak would not dare to counter-sue the Democrats for accusing him of hiring small parties to run in the election for feared that his own wrongdoing would be exposed in court.

Thaworn said his party believed that if the EC was replaced, justice would be meted out to Thai Rak Thai Party leader Thaksin Shinawatra and all those involved in the election fraud.

He said the EC panel had damning evidence and witnesses including a general and a lieutenant-general involved in the scam.

He dismissed Thai Rak Thai Party's defence that the offence was personal and not committed on behalf of the party.

"They are scared that their party will be dissolved," he said.