Thaksin gets final chance on June 18

Court sets date for closing statements

Supawadee Susanpoolthong

Thaksin Shinawatra will get a final chance to save his political career on June 18.

The Constitutional Court yesterday set that date for closing statements in his hidden assets case. The prime minister has so far declined to testify, and many of his witnesses gave evidence in writing rather than appearing in court.

That could change when the defence and the National Counter Corruption Commission present their final arguments on June 18.

Mr Thaksin could take the opportunity to appeal over the court's head for a public verdict.

It would also be his last chance to sway a court that has appeared hostile to his team's manoeuvres, in a possible portent of its ruling.

Lawyers for Mr Thaksin yesterday failed to persuade the court to set June 25 for a closing statement, the date most convenient to the premier.

They also failed to get the 20-minute time limit extended. A request that the closing speech be given by Mr Thaksin and one lawyer was also refused. Prasert Nasakul, the court president, set a June 21 deadline for wrapping up the hearing and insisted that each side has only one representative to make the closing statement. The parties agreed on June 18.

Mr Prasert said each side would be warned at the 15-minute mark and the court would order the delivery stopped as soon as the 20-minute limit expired.

The court, however, has not fixed a date for passing a verdict.

Adulpan Chantharo, a Thaksin lawyer, declined to confirm if Mr Thaksin would be free to make the wrap-up statement.

Twenty minutes, he said, might be too short a time to explain Mr Thaksin's stand to the people.

Mr Thaksin's legal team would submit a detailed concluding statement prior to delivery.

Mr Thaksin said he would turn up for the final session. He wanted the hearing to end quickly "for peace of mind".

The court yesterday held its last session of cross-examination, the seventh, but defence witnesses again opted for written rather than verbal testimony.

The court was told the five witnesses-Khunying Pojaman, Mr Thaksin's wife; Banpote Damapong, her brother; Viroj Nualkhair, former chairman of the Securities Companies Association; Suvit Mapaisalsilp, managing director of Patra Merryll Lynch; and Sakkarin Ruamrangsee, director of the Stock Exchange's legal division-wanted to give written statements rather than appear in person. Mr Prasert said the court would make a note of their absence. Krirkkiat Pipatseritham, a corruption commission member, said the defence team wanted to avoid exposing witnesses to a grilling which could hurt Mr Thaksin's credibility.