Viroj Laohaphan, who chairs the inquiry panel, said Panthongtae was expected to appear before the panel at 11am. Deputy Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas said military officers would increase security measures during Panthongtae's appearance. More officers would patrol the compound and wouldn't allow media outdoor broadcasting vans or other "irrelevant" vehicles near the Office of Auditor-General building.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said Panthongtae had confirmed he would meet the AEC. He also showed confidence that he would be able to answer the panel's questions. And while he would have to be interviewed alone, he had consulted legal advisers well.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula said yesterday the ministry had filed complaints with the AEC against Thaksin's wife Pojaman over the controversial purchase of a block of land in Ratchadapisek Road, Bangkok.

Pridiyathorn said he had not ignored an AEC order to file complaints against members of the Thaksin government accused of irregularities or corruption, as was suggested on Monday.

On another matter, AEC member Banjerd Singkaneti said the committee could finish its report into irregularities into the Thaksin government's rubber seedling project tomorrow. But the committee would work out next week whether to file charges, he said.

Banjerd, head of the AEC panel looking into the matter, said committee members would meet on Monday to hear the report and consider possible irregularities in the project. If the panel believed the project was corrupt, and the wrongdoers included politicians, it would inform the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry - as the damaged party - to file complaints against the people involved.

Banjerd said he couldn't reveal more about the inquiry, for fear his remarks could influence the inquiry or AEC judgement of the matter.

In reaction to a threat from the Thai Rak Thai Party that it would file a malfeasance charge against the AEC if it failed to investigate Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's ownership of a land plot on Khao Yai Tiang mountain in Nakhon Ratchasima, Banjerd said the committee would have to consider the complaint.

It would not investigate any case - as nobody had filed a charge against the PM. However, it would finish the cases it is currently looking into first. If the party filed a complaint, the AEC might pass on the case to another related agency to investigate as it had limited time to work.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan,

Bancha Khaengkhan

The Nation