Thai Rak Thai Party executive Pongthep Thepkanchana points to a video recording, allegedly ‘undoctored, of events at the Defence Ministry last March. TRT has denied claims by the Democrat Party that it bribed minor parties to contest seats in the election

The 30-minute recording from three cameras showed former defence minister Thamarak Isarangura did not meet or give money to reporter Tawee Suwannapat - as alleged by Democrat Party, TRT said.

But Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said Thai Rak Thai was simply trying to distract people and discredit the Constitution Tribunal. He said Thai Rak Thai showed the video to tell people that the Tribunal refused to accept the video as evidence.

On Tuesday, Thai Rak Thai representative Somsak Toraksa asked the Tribunal for permission to play the recording - but judges said they could watch the video themselves.

Suthep said the Thai Rak Thai had formerly tried to say the video did not exist - but admitted to it later because of the evidence. Then permanent secretary of Defence, General Sirichai Thanyasiri, also conceded the video was recorded at the ministry.

Suthep said he didn't know whether the video played yesterday was made up or modified. He said he had received images from tapes from a source and verified the shots with Pattana Chart Thai candidate Chawakarn Tosawat.

Chawakarn had described what happened - which matched with the pictures - and showed the T-shirt he wore in the video as proof.

People had yet to see the video, Suthep said, because Thai Rak Thai executives and Defence officials claimed it was destroyed as it had "aged after few months" last May.

TRT executive Pongthep Thep-kanchana, who heads the party's legal defence, said the video showed Tawee arriving at the ministry and holding a document with a white cover at 2.18pm on March 3. Pongsri Siwamoke led Chawakarn to the corridor in front of the minister's room at 2.20pm. Theerachai Chulapat arrived at 2.21pm.

Another camera showed Thamarak entering the ministry at 2.23pm, without talking to Tawee, he said. Tawee waited in front of the room before leaving.

"After Suthep released the nine still pictures at the Defence Ministry, General Thamarak, then defence minister, ordered an investigation and collected the evidence. The (Thai Rak Thai) party hasn't released the tape because we feared the witnesses would lie to match the video recording.

"However, we have handed the recording to the Constitution Tribunal. If we have a chance to explain to the Tribunal, the Tribunal will understand us clearly and we believe it would defend [us against] the allegation of hiring small parties," Pongthep said.

He insisted a close aide to Thamarak - Col Choedpong Boonyakiat - didn't give money to Tawee, who was holding a book.

Choedpong and another military officer would testify to the Tribunal, he said.

Suthep released nine captured pictures, which he claimed were from the close-circuit television cameras at the ministry. He said the pictures showed Pattana Chart Thai candidate Chawakarn Tosawat, along with Thamarak's close aides Tawee Suwannapat, Theerachai Chulapat and Pongsri Siwamoke, meeting Thamarak to negotiate and receive money from Thamarak on March 3 last year.

Suthep claimed that Thamarak, as Thai Rak Thai deputy leader, and deputy secretary-general Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, hired candidates from small parties to compete in the April 2 election last year.

Thamarak and Pongsak will testify to the Tribunal in March.

Chawakarn testified to the Tribunal on Tuesday and described what happened to Suthep, "to reveal the truth about Thai Rak Thai".

Kesinee Jaikawang,

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation