Sirichok : Check the name cards

Although not specified by name in reports by unnamed sources about "a PM's close aide" or "one of Prime Minister Abhisit's wallpapers", Sirichok held a press conference on Tuesday to rebut the claims. He said the reports stemmed from senior police who sought money in exchange for backing officers for certain positions.

It is a mystery where the accusations against Abhisit's close aide originated from or if there is any evidence he "interfered" in the reshuffle list. However, regardless of this, Sirichok revealed intriguing details of alleged corruption.

The told the press investigators should check whether name cards, attached with requests to favour some officers, had signatures penned by the card owners.

Sirichok said: "I did not hold this press conference because I have a wound [and fear people know he had made claims in regard to the police reshuffle]. But when the accusation was made against a close aide of Abhisit, all close aides and people close to the prime minister, include-ing advisers, were hurt." He said he felt obliged to reveal what lay behind them.

Sirichok has reason to do so, given he was the first aide to be dubbed by the media as "Abhisit's wallpaper", because he is often seen behind the PM when Abhisit does interviews with television news crews.

Abhisit has joked with Sirichok many times in front of reporters. The pair have been close since before Abhisit became party leader. They have some similarities - they are close in age (Sirichok is 42 and Abhisit 45), were both educated in the UK, and share a passion for football, plus love to get information from the Internet.

Sirichok was a personal secretary to Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, Abhisit's mentor, when Chuan was PM.

Sirichok is good at research and investi-gation. He made a name for himself from his first term as an MP scrutinising irregu-larities by the Thaksin government, includ-ing matters related to Thaksin's family's companies and the baggage scanners' scandal at the new air-port. He was named Parliament's rising star in 2001 and an outstanding debater in 2002.

As well as being part of the Democrats' economic team, Sirichok also has good English. He translated the speech former PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair gave at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in 2007, which was later the subject of a lese majeste complaint. (That matter is still under investigation).

Considering his closeness to the PM, people expected him to get some position in Abhisit's government. However, he did not, as the constitution prohibits MPs from holding other political positions, and Sirichok did not want to lose his MP seat.

Kornchanok@nationgroup.com