Chart thai petitions attorney-general

Chart Thai executive Nikorn Chamnong submitted party leader Banharn Silapa-archa's petition to Attorney-General Chaikasem Nitisiri, asking for justice in the case.

Nikorn met the attorney-general for about 40 minutes, during which he gave his party's explanation about the case.

The Attorney-General's Office is considering whether to pursue the case by seeking a Constitution Court ruling as to whether the party is responsible for the electoral fraud allegedly committed by party executive Monthien Songpracha. If found guilty, Chart Thai would be dissolved.

Nikorn said afterwards that he had told the attorney-general that there was no evidence that Monthien, a party election candidate in Chai Nat province, was responsible of buying votes. Also, he said that under legal principles, only the perpetrator and any accomplice should be punished and not other people who had nothing to do with any unlawful activity.

Nikorn said that Banharn and Chart Thai's legal experts would next week explain the party's view before the Attorney-General's Office working group on the case.

He insisted the party was innocent of any wrongdoing and pointed out the possible impact on its members.

"Chart Thai is not just the 40 executive members. Its dissolution would adversely affect almost 2 million party members," Nikorn said.

"We will do whatever we can. We are not disheartened. We believe in the party's innocence," he added.