Wannawarit Tantipirom said he acted independently to seek police help to hide a video camera so he could record his conversation with Democrat Thaikorn Polsuwan.

Thaikorn yesterday alleged Thai Rak Thai was behind the plan to have police record his conversation with Wannawarit.

Wannawarit recounted that three policemen, one in plainclothes, arrived at his house in Nakhon Ratchasima on April 20, claiming he had violated electoral law. The policemen left a phone number for him to call for legal help, he said.

Following the visit from police, Wannawarit asked Chaiyaphum police chief Maj-General Prasit Thamdee, a personal acquaintance, to help.

Prasit had Lt-Colonel Rutthapol Naowarat, a deputy chief of a police station in Chaiyaphum's Muang district, call the number left by police and identify himself as Wannawarit. Rutthapol made an appointment to meet the person on the other end of the line at Central Lat Phrao shopping mall on April 22. The venue was later changed to Bangkok's Grand Hotel.

During the conversation at the hotel, Wannawarit said Thaikorn offered money to convince him to try to frame the Thai Rak Thai. Wannawarit said Thaikorn also offered to provide a refuge in Bangkok.

"I did not know Thaikorn. I did not call him and the Thai Rak Thai had nothing to do with this. Give me some time to compile evidence and I'll call another press conference so the public can know who is right or wrong," Wannawarit said.