Witnesses in the Bt29 million Democrat Party scandal submitted documents outlining the relationship between the party and several companies - and supported their case by raising what they claimed were more suspicious issues over campaign boards.
At the Constitution Court's second hearing for the case, which could lead to Democrat Party dissolution, five witnesses on the Election Commission (EC) - the plaintiff side - testified.
Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan - an anti-government red-shirt leader - and party spokesman Prompong Nopparit were in the courtroom.
On the Democrat side, chief adviser Chuan Leekpai led a legal team including Banyat Bantadtan, Bundit Siripant, Wirat Kalayasiri, Chaiwat Traisunan and Wirat Romyen.
Waraporn na Pombejra, an EC director in charge of investigating financial |and accounting systems, submitted to the court a graphic chart depicting financial dealings related to the case. It claimed to link the Democrats' alleged misuse of the Bt29-million fund from the EC; the involvement of advertising production company Messiah Business and Creation and TPI Polene Company; and another Democrat dissolution case involving Bt258 million.
Waraporn was questioned on having the same family name as the ex-wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, founder of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party - a main political rival to the Democrats.
Waraporn said it was her husband's family name. She and her family were Chumphon natives and always voted |for the Democrats, she said. Chuan Leekpai was a politician she admired. She said |having the same family name should not imply political favour, noting that Pimpen Vejjajiva, wife of the Democrat leader, |was also a member of the na Pombejra family.
The deputy director of the EC's office |on state support, Anuchit Prasartthong, said three suspicious points were |found - the advanced production of |the election campaign boards, the size of the boards, which was different to that stated in the proposal, and false spending reports.
Waraporn said the party did not sign contract documents while hiring Messiah to produce the election campaign boards. On the other hand, it signed contracts with other companies on smaller projects.
Democrat representative Wirat Kalayasiri attacked Anuchit for relying on documents and reports received from another investigation team, not his original investigation.
Bundit questioned why former EC deputy secretary-general Pokkrong Suntarasut and the director of the EC's political parties' affairs office, Krit Uawong - members of an investigation team who decided nothing was wrong with the Democrats' report - reversed their testimony. Bundit questioned whether they were influenced by threats from red-shirt protesters.
Krit said they found no flaws in the accounts, as the documents were approved by an authorised auditor, but they later found some flaws in its practice.
Krit pointed out that suspicious issues included the party's advance order for the production of the election campaign boards, which came before the proposal to the Election Commission was approved, and the issuing of a receipt before the cheque payment.
Among the witnesses scheduled to testify next Monday are prominent witnesses for the case - Messiah's executive Prachuap Sangkhao and TPI Polene executive Prachai Leophairatana.