A probe into allegations of official upcountry trips by former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and eight others needs more time to gather information, said the Election Commission (EC).
The probe was launched in response to complaints about alleged exploitation of government resources by Ms Yingluck and eight other people who made several trips to northern and northeastern provinces prior to the Feb 2 election.
Ms Yingluck allegedly ordered government officials to arrange for locals to greet them and raise banners with messages showing support, according to the complaints. Such activities were seen to give the caretaker government the upper hand in the Feb 2 poll, which was later nullified.
EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said the EC is required to set up a panel to establish if there are grounds to the allegations. If there are, the panel will submit the findings to the EC to decide if a full probe will be launched and the accused will be asked to testify.
Phichit Chuenban, a lawyer representing Ms Yingluck, said yesterday the former prime minister did not violate any laws and she is ready to respond to the allegations.
He said Ms Yingluck was informed of the probe and asked to submit her statement one day before she left for an overseas trip. Ms Yingluck has asked for a postponement to submit the information until she returns.
Mr Phichit also urged an EC member not to rush into commenting as the allegations could result in the Pheu Thai Party being dissolved.
He said there is no evidence to support the allegations against Ms Yingluck. He insisted she never made any election-related speeches during those visits.
"There was no competition in the Feb 2 election either. The Democrat Party boycotted the election. Ms Yingluck also announced she would not join the party's election campaign. There was no reason for her to help the party woo votes," he said.
Former deputy prime minister Plodpradop Surasawadi, one of the eight accused with Ms Yingluck, dismissed the allegations as "nonsensical" as they were only performing caretaker government duties. He also denied the government ordered officials to arrange for locals to greet them on the visits.