Suriya has until Wednesday to defend corruption charges : AEC

"Suriya appears unwilling to defend himself as he has kept delaying to testify many times," panel chairwoman Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka said Saturday.

Jaruvan said she could complete her indictment hearing and spell out charges based on available evidence even if Suriya refused to cooperate.

With or without Suriya's testimony, the panel will complete its report recommending indictments by December, she said.

In another development, the Office of the Auditor General has uncovered irregularities involving the Sakon Nakhon Provincial Administrative Organisation and alerted the National Counter Corruption Commission to launch a graft probe.

The auditing report has also recommended for disciplinary proceedings against five officials.

 The auditing of the spending records found evidence that a Bt43 million contract to buy computers and software for local schools was rigged to favour a supplier last year.