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DISSOLUTION

Two key witnesses in a 2006 trial of the Thai Rak Thai Party have said they were bribed to press false charges against former TRT executive Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhya, resulting in the dissolution of the party.

Suksant Chaiyathep and Chavakarn Tosawat, of the dissolved and little-known Pattana Chart Thai Party, told a press conference yesterday they were paid by Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban to frame Gen Thammarak.

"We were paid 1 million baht each to set up Gen Thammarak and give [false] statements to the Election Commission.

"Mr Suthep promised to pay us 15 million baht each, help clear the charges [against us], field us in the elections and give us political positions if the Democrat Party won," said Mr Suksant.

Mr Suksant said he decided to expose the plot three years later because Mr Suthep did not keep his word, especially when he was about to be prosecuted on charges of electoral fraud.

Mr Suksant and Mr Chavakarn alleged at the time that Gen Thammarak paid them to have election officials tamper with the poll commission's database to enable candidates of the smaller party to "compete" with TRT candidates in the April 2, 2006 election.

The allegations were deemed strong following the release of still photos which were captured by surveillance cameras in front of Gen Thammarak's office at the Defence Ministry. Gen Thammarak walked past a group of visitors from Pattana Chart Thai.

Mr Suksant said he felt sorry for the TRT, its executives and ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who were banned from politics for five years.

He added that he had evidence about the alleged pay-off.

"I have financial records about the money transfers. I will disclose them later and I can assure you they are linked to the Democrat Party," he said.

Mr Chavakarn said yesterday that he was asked to do it for the country and he faced charges for that.

The press conference was organised at a Bangkok hotel by Puea Thai members led by Gen Panlop Pinmanee.

A source in Puea Thai said yesterday the party consulted Thaksin about the press conference and he gave it the go-ahead.

Meanwhile, Democrat MP Chinnaworn Boonyakiat yesterday cast doubt on the timing of the allegation.

He said it was likely a part of the ousted prime minister's ploy to undermine the government which was now pitted against Phnom Penh over Thaksin's extradition.