Somsak says he has nothing else to say

Doesn't want to be a 'Mr Pumpkin'

Surasak Tumcharoen

Deputy House Speaker Somsak Prisnanantakul says he has nothing more to say to the Election Commission about his alleged involvement in vote-buying in the Nakhon Nayok by-election late last month.

Mr Somsak, who was recorded during a telephone conversation allegedly discussing vote-buying tactics with a Chart Thai colleague, said he already revealed "everything as far as the law allows".

He had pride in himself as a human being and would not treat himself as though he had committed a crime.

The commission's inquiry panel may again ask him to record phrases from the conversation for voice analysis.

Mr Somsak had already given a sample recording but refused to repeat the taped conversation.

The police Scientific Detection Division did not know whether the voice on the original tape submitted by Democrat executive Charnchai Issarasenarak belonged to the deputy speaker.

"I maintain that I have told everything as far as the law allows, but I will not act as if I have committed a crime," Mr Somsak said. He said he refused to repeat the words on the Charnchai tape because it could lead to claims of a cover-up if the voices were different.

"But if the two voices were found to be the same, then I would be held responsible." In his testimony before the commission last week, Mr Somsak refused to repeat the words on the tape, which supposedly mention the use of "vote-buying ammunition" in the election, in which Chart Thai's Wutichai Kittitanesuan triumphed over his Democrat rival.

Mr Somsak said he did not wish to see himself portrayed as "another Mr Pumpkin".

He brandished the book Judgment by SEAWrite award winner Chart Kobjitti, which depicts Mr Pumpkin as an innocent defendant in an adultery case.

"[The commission] should consider more seriously the honour due me, and how credible evidence obtained in a criminal fashion can be," said an emotional Mr Somsak, his eyes brimming with tears.