EC panel nears conclusion over probe into leaked report
The Election Commission (EC) subcommittee will on Monday conclude its investigation into how information on its inquiry into the party lobbying scandal of the April 2 elections was leaked, subcommittee chairman Rungrit Makarapong said yesterday.
He said the subcommittee had interviewed more than 10 witnesses, inside and outside the EC, and studied various documents. Rungrit said he would present the results to EC secretary-general Ekachai Warunprapa who will consider the appropriate punishment for revealing a secret government document. The secret document, which was leaked to the media last month, concerned the investigation conducted by an EC subcommittee led by Nam Yimyaem into claims that a large party had "bribed" small parties to contest the April 2 election. EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp said the EC would consider the testimonies of Thai Rak Thai executives who had given more information after Nam's subcommittee had concluded the investigation. However, it is uncertain if the EC will be able to reach a conclusion on the bribery allegations, he said. Nam's subcommittee concluded Thai Rak Thai did hire small parties to contest in the election, but Vasana said the case needed further investigation with Thai Rak Thai executives as additional witnesses. The EC did not meet yesterday as commissioner Virachai Naewboonnien had a hospital appointment. Atthayuth Butrsripoom The Nation
|
