Check of Somsak's voice not conclusive

Election panel may have to decide by ear

Mongkol Bangprapa

The Scientific Crime Detection Division says it is unable to analyse the voices in a vote-buying conversation implicating Somsak Prisananantakul, a deputy House Speaker and deputy Chart Thai party leader.

The division said analysis of the tape-recorded conversation against a sample of remarks recorded by Mr Somsak, and a parliamentary speech, could not establish if Mr Somsak was the man caught discussing vote-buying tactics.

Vijit Yusuparb, the Election Commission secretary-general and head of the inquiry, said the division had reported back that its analysis was inconclusive.

The agency said the voice heard in the conversation, and samples submitted by Mr Somsak, were recorded "in different states".

Mr Vijit said the phrase "different states" was a technical term requiring translation and his panel would seek clarification at its meeting tomorrow.

Mr Vijit was asked why the division was unable to come up with a result when it encountered no problem in examining the voice of Sompong Luedthaharn, a taxi driver posing as a good samaritan.

Mr Sompong, masquerading as an airport security guard at Don Muang, phoned a radio station to say a taxi driver named Sompong had returned money and valuables to a foreigner at the airport.

About 800,000 baht in cash, four land title deeds worth several million baht, and a mobile phone, which had been left in the taxi car, were returned, the station was told.

The story was broadcast live. In due course, Mr Sompong called the station to confirm it.

Mr Sompong became a public hero. He landed a fortune when charity organisations, the government and private individuals showered him with cash and gifts.

The division ran a test and found Mr Sompong had disguised his voice. The test was used in evidence against Mr Sompong, who was sent to jail.

Mr Vijit said he would ask the division why it could not manage an analysis in Mr Somsak's case, which was probably less complicated than the Sompong fiasco. Senator Chirmsak Pinthong, who moderates radio and television talk shows, has volunteered to provide another recording of Mr Somsak's voice.

Mr Vijit said the division had insisted earlier that Mr Somsak's voice samples were sufficient to carry out an analysis.

Mr Somsak has reportedly contacted the EC to say he is willing to have another voice sample recorded.