Dissolution case will take 'six months for verdict

The People Power Party's legal adviser in the party-dissolution case says it would take at least six months before the court delivers a verdict.

Yuenyad Jaisamut said the number of witnesses and details of information in the case were greater than in the Thai Rak Thai dissolution case and would take up much more time.

"The court is expediting the cases, but it cannot rush them. I believe the process will take at least six months," Yuenyad said.

PPP executives and some MPs will defend themselves by arguing they did not know of former deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat's conduct. The Supreme Court disqualified Yongyuth over fraud in the December 23, 2007 general elections.

Apart from seeking party dissolution, the Office of the Attorney-General has asked the Constitution Court to revoke the voting rights of 37 PPP executives for five years under Article 237 of the Constitution.

However, it also suggested that the court could revoke the rights of only the party executives involved.

According to the Article, party executives would lose their voting rights for five years if they are found to be involved in election fraud or knew of but failed to stop such conduct.

The Constitution Court has scheduled November 26 for representatives of the attorney-general and the People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya parties and defendants to discuss and verify the evidence they will present to the court. They will also be told about the court's guidelines for the trial.

While the court can process |three party-dissolution cases at the same time, Yuenyad said it might schedule hearings once a week for each.

The hearings for the attorney-general's witnesses might take six weeks, he said, while witnesses for the PPP could take longer, possibly eight weeks.

Moreover, 37 PPP executives, including Yongyuth and other MPs, will testify before the court to protect their rights. Six MPs have indicated their intention to do so. As a result, the entire trial process is likely to take at least six months.

"If the party is dissolved, the names of party members on the MP waiting list must also be deleted. They would lose their chance of being MPs should the current executives be banned. They should also be able to protect their rights," Yuenyad said.

The Supreme Court disqualified Yongyuth for fraud in the December 23, 2007 general election.

Chart Thai is accused of being linked to electoral fraud committed by its executive Monthien Songpracha in Chainat in the same election.

Matchima Thipataya party executive Sunthorn Wilawan was disqualified from the December election in Prachin Buri.