Bangkok senator elect Nitiphoom Naowarat broke his silence yesterday over a potentially explosive phone conversation uploaded to the Internet, saying he was the victim of a politically motivated group out to ruin his reputation.

The secretly recorded dialogue with an elder woman over a financial dispute has caught the mainstream media's attention, as it portrays the biggest vote-getter from the capital in a new light.

A statement released yesterday by the Balance Group, of which Nitiphoom is board chairman, blames a "third party" for trying to destroy the former newspaper columnist's standing and political career by being behind the surfacing of the secret conversation, and not the angry woman in it.

Nitiphoom has been basking at the peak of his political career after garnering the most votes in the recent Senate poll. The winners are expected to be endorsed by the Election Commission on Monday. It is not clear how the conversation's disclosure would hurt his political status.

In its statement, the company offered a take on the matter that almost totally contrasted with the website version.

The firm said Nitiphoom would complain to police that an unknown party was deliberately trying to destroy his good name. The letter also said another police complaint would be lodged against the party behind the taped conversation circulating on the Net.

Nitiphoom told The Nation he had been "very polite and respectful" in his talks with the woman. He did not identify her but said they were fighting a legal battle over a business deal.

The statement referred to the unnamed woman as "the person" who had become a partner in a Bt200-million venture with Nitiphoom but did not go into details. It only said the two had had a falling-out that had led to her seeking legal recourse.

Neither Nitiphoom nor the statement made any reference to an alleged Bt20-million debt: the hour-long dialogue is dominated by the screaming woman, who in every other sentence curses the well-known political commentator as she demands her Bt20 million back.

The flamboyant Nitiphoom, who failed in the 2004 Bangkok governor election, saw his political star soar after joining the anti-Thaksin protest. He took to the stage with the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Nitiphoom's statement came three days after the posting of an audio recording of his conversation along with a transcription.

He said that on June 27 the court should reach a verdict on the case between him and "the person" in the taped conversation.