The verdict is expected to be announced at 2.30pm, one hour after the Tribunal is to give its verdict in the electoral fraud case against the Democrat and Progressive Democratic parties.

Yesterday saw the last hearing in the case against Thai Rak Thai, Thai Ground and Pattana Chart Thai.

Thanit said the plaintiff and the defendants should hand in their closing statements for the case by May 1. They would not need to present their statements verbally.

At yesterday's hearing, witnesses from the two small parties denied that they received money from Thai Rak Thai or any other major party.

The Attorney-General last year asked the Constitution Court to rule on whether the Thai Rak Thai, Democrat and three small parties should be dissolved because of alleged electoral fraud in the April 2 election.

Thai Rak Thai was accused of hiring the two small parties to contest the election to avoid its candidates facing the requirement for a minimum of 20 per cent of eligible votes from an uncontested constituency.

The Democrat Party was charged with joining the People's Alliance for Democracy to topple and frame the Thai Rak Thai government, hiring MP candidates from the Progressive Democratic Party to frame TRT, obstructing candidate registration in Songkhla, and hiring the leader of the Better Life Party to frame Thai Rak Thai.

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation