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Published on January 4, 2008

Phichit Chuenbarn, a lawyer for Samak, said he would like the AEC to summon all the witnesses to prevent the public thinking Samak had paid them to testify in his favour.

The lawyer said he feared witnesses who could have been useful to Samak might be excluded from the witnesses' list for the hearing next Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, Phichit said he had complained to AEC members that Samak's indictment was hurried, but he did not say how they responded. AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem said he would consider whether to summon any of the 20 witnesses. He said a former Austrian ambassador to Thailand - one of the witnesses requested by Samak - could be left off the list as he had declined to testify after being summoned several times by the AEC.

Nam said the AEC would continue to probe the deal and other cases even if Samak becomes prime minister.

The Nation