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Presiding judge Thonglor Chomngam exercised his judicial discretion to hear the testimony of Pichit Chuenban on his involvement to defend former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Pojaman, both co-defendants and fugitives living in exile in London.

Pichit is expected to take the witness stand on Friday.

His summons was served at the remand prison where he is serving time in connection with the Bt2 million bribery attempt, ruled by the high court as contempt to interfere with the judicial proceedings on the case.

Lead defence lawyer Kamnuan Chalopatham said following the contempt conviction, the defence had removed Pichit from the list of defence witnesses although the judge deemed it necessary to hear his testimony.

"At this juncture, I am not sure whether or not Pichit's statement would be in favour of the defence," he said, arguing that everything would depend on how the questions posed by the presiding judge.

Thaksin and Pojaman are standing trial in absentia for abuse of power to buy a Bt772 million plot from the Financial Institutions Development Fund, a state agency.