A spokesman for Thai Rak Thai said it had more evidence to prove the Democrats were behind an effort to lobby smaller parties to implicate it [Thai Rak Tha]. The party also sought an order to dissolve the Democrat Party on several charges, including framing the ruling party.

EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp said the probe into the case was not finished despite the subcommittee's report. The EC had received more evidence and the VCD given by Thai Rak Thai, in which political activist Taikorn Polsuwan appeared, raised more questions. The EC would investigate more, listen to Thai Rak Thai's witnesses, and investigate how the document leaked to the public, he said.

Meanwhile, Chaiyaphum police commander Maj-General Prasit Thamdee yesterday confirmed press reports that a senior police officer in the province was involved in lobbying in the April 2 election. However, the two low-ranked officers mentioned by political activist Taikorn Polsuwan did not work for Chaiyaphum police.

Taikorn appeared in a video recording that showed him negotiating with the leader of the Better Life Party, Watwarit Tantipirom, to implicate Thai Rak Thai for allegedly hiring Better Life to run in the poll's second round.

Prasit said he had ordered Major Ruthapol Nawarat and Chaiyaphum police to secretly investigate the case. A report had been sent last month to the Royal Thai Police headquarters.

"We have clear evidence since the investigation of coordination involving Taikorn and the Democrat Party," Prasit said. He did not reveal the information earlier "as it might affect national security".

Thai Rak Thai executive Wichit Plangsrisakul and the party's legal experts said yesterday they wanted to know if the investigation report leaked to the public was genuine and why the panel chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Nam Yimyam had not given the party a chance to explain. Moreover, the document should have been a secret, so how and why was it leaked, they asked.