Charnchai's new tape implicates EC staff

Two Chart Thai MPs star in third episode

Mongkol Bangprapa and Anucha Charoenpo

Charnchai Issarasenarak has a third tape-recorded conversation, which allegedly implicates two pollwatchers in the leaking of classified information to political parties.

The former Democrat MP alleged the third cassette was of a telephone conversation between Sitthichai Kittithanesuan, Chart Thai MP for Nakhon Nayok, and Sanya Bunlong, son of Dej Bunlong, deputy leader of the same party.

Mr Charnchai alleged they were discussing vote-buying tactics and mentioned two Election Commission staffers in charge of investigations.

Mr Charnchai said it was the first time he had publicly revealed the identities of the two callers, but he stopped short of naming the poll officials implicated.

The tape is the third recording he claims to have which allegedly features Chart Thai members. The first recording is a phone conversation allegedly between Somsak Prisananathakul, the deputy Chart Thai leader and deputy House speaker, and a party member discussing vote-buying tactics.

A second tape, which was not released, exposed an alleged affair between Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa and Janista Liewchalermwong, a list-MP.

All implicated Chart Thai members denied their involvement but Mr Charnchai insisted the tapes were genuine.

"How was it that the [Election Commission] investigation summary found its way on to the street and copies were publicly distributed around the country," he said.

He said the addresses of witnesses were traced after the confidential information was exposed.

Mr Charnchai yesterday played the tape for Vijit Yusuparb, the commission's secretary-general.

He vowed to submit documented evidence today and present witnesses to Sawat Chotipanich, the panel member in charge of the investigation.

He also provided senate members with information on alleged vote fraud committed in Nakhon Nayok.

Mr Vijit said he still had to listen to the tapes more carefully but had ordered pollwatchers referred to on the tape to submit written explanations.

The commission needed more time to examine all the tapes since there were so many of them, he said.

The tapes also had to authenticated, he said, but scientific crime detection police yesterday postponed their verdict on the Somsak tape.

A high-ranking police source said the identify of the voice on the first tape could not be established because comparisons could not be made with Mr Somsak's voice.

Recordings of his voice given to police last week were insufficient.

Mr Somsak's voice apparently did not match the voice on the tape but he refused to co-operate when police asked him to repeat the remarks on the original tape.

The source said the US Federal Bureau of Investigation certified the method of voice analysis used and a conclusion was expected this weekend.