FFP can only call 4 witnesses to testify

It is not within the power of the Future Forward Party (FFP) to have all its witnesses defend the party in its loan trial in the Constitutional Court, according to party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul.

The FFP has named 17 people as defence witnesses. However, Mr Piyabutr said the party can only call four to take the stand. They are himself, party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, as well as the party treasurer and legal specialist.

The remaining 13 are non-party members who require a court order to be summonsed to testify in the party's defence.

They include members of an Election Commission sub-panel which rejected a petition which accused the FFP of violating the organic law on political parties by accepting a 191.2-million-baht loan from Mr Thanathorn to finance its campaign in last year's general election.

Mr Piyabutr said the court gave the party seven days until today to bring the 17 witnesses to testify. However, there was not enough time to secure the court orders to summonse these officials, he added.

The FFP secretary-general said the Constitutional Court might have mistakenly thought that all 17 witnesses do not need an official summons.

Mr Piyabutr added the party was pressed for time.