As leader of the ruling Democrat Party, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has ordered an investigation into Wiruch Romyen, Democrat MP for Ranong, after a leaked video clip showed him having a conversation with Pasit Sakdanarong, secretary to the Constitution Court president.
Pasit was relieved of his duties on Monday because the clip was seen as a possible attempt by the men to influence the court. The Democrats are embroiled in a case that could result in the party's dissolution.
Abhisit has set a 15-day deadline for the investigation to be completed. Thepthai Senpong, spokesman for the Democrat Party's leader who revealed the prime minister's decision yesterday, said the investigation was an attempt by the party to prove its innocence. Abhisit set up a six-member panel led by Democrat MP Therdphong Chai-nan as chairman and MP Thawil Praison as secretary.
Thepthai said the panel would investigate whether Wiruch had done anything illegal such as getting knowingly involved in an attempt to influence the court, and if so, whether he had any collaborators. If found guilty, Wiruch would be punished in accordance with the party's rules, he said.
"Abhisit has told me to coordinate with Wiruch and allow him to sue anyone for defamation on a personal level. At the same time, the party's legal team will meet on October 21 to conclude on protecting the party from damages and will appoint a legal team to defend it."
In a related development, Abhisit said it was understandable that the video clips were making the party's popularity dip in polls, adding that the Democrats would do their best to revive their esteem.
An Abac poll of 1,056 people in Bangkok and its vicinity conducted on October 17 and 18 Sunday and Monday revealed that 52.2 per cent of the respondents had lost respect for the party after seeing the leaked video clips, while 47.8 per cent still liked the party. A total of 46 per cent felt the clips did not affect the judicial system, while 54 per cent said they affected their trust in the judicial system.