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Published on September 3, 2007

Sithichok Rawdkrutta said the Assets Examination Com-mittee (AEC) panel headed by Prasert Boonsri would today submit the result of its investigation into the purchase which excluded Apirak.

Sithichok said although he lodged a complaint with the AEC for the panel to summon Apirak for investigation for approving the letter of credit that completed the purchase contract, he was ignored and Apirak was not incriminated.

Sithichok said if the AEC accepted the result of the investigation, the five suspects in the case - Bhokin Bhalakula, Pracha Maleenont, Samak Sundaravej, Athilak Tanchukiat and Somsak Kun-ngern - would say that Apirak had caused the damage.

"If that is the case, the court may acquit the five of the charges," he said.

Sithichok said he was kicked off the Prasert panel because he refused to endorse the result of the investigation since it did not include Apirak. He said AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem had asked him to endorse the result of the investigation.

He expressed confidence that the AEC members were honest and would deal with the case in a straightforward manner. "If the majority disapproves the investigation result of the Prasert panel, Nam cannot object," he said.

Meanwhile, People Power Party spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang lashed out at Nam for lacking neutrality as AEC chairman for accusing Samak of wrongdoing in the fire-fighting equipment purchase and defended Apirak as innocent in his testimony given to the court in the libel suit filed by Samak against him.

Kuthep accused Nam of having a conflict of interest since Nam had hired Bandit Siripan, a lawyer close to the Democrat Party chief adviser, to write his testimony that defended Apirak even though the Prasert panel had not submitted its investigation result.

"Nam jumped to the conclusion acting like a judge. This shows that he is unjust - how can he give justice to others? He must quit if he wants to uphold the AEC's credibility," he said.

Nam threatened to sue Kuthep following the accusation, saying he did not belong to any political camp and he worked in the best interests of the country.

He said he would listen to the tape of Kuthep's comments. If the content was defamatory, he would sue him.

"If my testimony upset someone, what can I do if what I said was true? Samak need not fear because the court, not the AEC, will rule on the case," he said.

Nam said he chose Bandit to be his lawyer because he is competent and won the libel case that the former Bangkok deputy governor Samart Ratchapolsit filed against Samak.

Jeerawan Prasomsap

The Nation