Two ranking Democrats, Banyat Bantadtan and Suthas Ngernmuen, will join the defence team for the Democrat Party dissolution case, party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said on Thursday.
"Banyat and Suthas will focus on the upcoming litigation related to the Bt258 million campaign donation," Chuan said, justifying the expansion of the defence team which is also in charge of another case related to Bt29 million party subsidies.
Although the same defence team will handle the two litigations in the Constitution Court, Banyat, who was the party leader at the time of the donation, is to take the lead role in preparing for the defence on charges related to party finances under his leadership, he said.
He was speaking after the Democrat executive board meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
In regard to the case on the Bt29 million party subsidies, the defence has already completed the preparations, submitted every defence argument and evidence and is ready to take part in the hearing of witnesses next month, he said.
The second case on the Bt258 million donation has been filed by the prosecutors on Wednesday. The high court has yet to schedule for the ruling on whether the case merits the judicial review.