EC panel to probe more on TRT's alleged hiring of small parties

The Election Commission has assigned a subcommittee to further investigate allegations that the Thai Rak Thai Party hired small parties to contest in the April 2 election, as results so far have been inconclusive, EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp said on Wednesday.
The subcommittee will report its findings within seven days, he said.
Vasana was referring to the controversial results already delivered by the subcommittee which said that the Thai Rak Thai Party had paid small parties to contest in the election. The subcommittee also recommended that Thaksin Shinawatra be invited to testify before the EC.
If the allegations prove true, the party would face dissolution and all party members would be prohibited from participating in politics for five years.
Vasana said that the EC members met on Wednesday and the results of the investigation were reported at the meeting.
"The investigation was not comprehensive because some people involved have not yet testified to the subcommittee. So the meeting has assigned the subcommittee to hold further investigations," Vasana said.
If the additional results prove inconclusive, the committee will be assigned to provide further evidence. "Once the investigation is complete, the EC will determine whether that party is guilty or not. If it is found guilty, the EC will then put the case forward," he said.
The EC has been accused of trying to protect the TRT and Thaksin.
|