Election Commission officials yesterday handed over five boxes with 9,000 pages of documents over an alleged Bt258 million donation to the Democrats - a second legal case that could see the party dissolved - to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
The OAG has 30 days to consider before filing the case to the court, OAG Special Cases Division director-general Thanapit Moonlapruek said.
If the OAG found weak points in the complaint they would inform EC chairman Apichart Sukakkanon as a party registrar within 30 days and set up a joint panel with the EC. The Democrat Party could submit a petition to the OAG as soon as it wants, he said.
Last month, the EC ruled on a separate legal case that could also see the Democrat Party dissolved - the alleged misuse of some Bt29 million in political development funds.
The EC has petitioned the Constitution Court to dissolve the party for this allegation.
Meanwhile, the Democrats held a meeting yesterday of its legal team. It was chaired by Chuan Leekpai, the party's chief adviser (and former PM), who will fight the dissolution case. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also attended.
A source said Abhisit asked about developments relating to the defence and warned the legal team not to expose more details until it goes to court, as it could affect the case.
The legal team has asked the Constitution Court for 30 days to submit its explanation on the case over the Bt29m in political development funds, Nipit Intharasombat, a member of the party's legal team, said.
The original deadline for the party was tomorrow, however Bangkok has been wracked with political turmoil since mid-March.
Nipit said he was confident that the party could defend the case after he studied documents relating to the matter. He thought the court would take six to seven months considering the issues before issuing a verdict.