Thai ruling Democrats' worries on party dissolution reducing

Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat on Thursday said ruling Democrats' worries on their party dissolution case have been lessened after reviewing the list of prosecution witnesses, the Nation on-line reported.

"I am relieved after seeing the names of the witnesses," Nipit said in his capacity as a member of a defense team of the ruling Democrat Party to rebut charges related to the alleged misspending of the 29 million baht (899,493 U.S. dollars) party fund.

The first batch of three witnesses to testify are expected to outline how they have heard about the alleged wrongdoing instead of having a first-hand evidence on the case, Nipit said.

On Wednesday, Thailand's Constitution Court ruled to hear 15 prosecution witnesses from a list of 80 submitted by prosecutors for the ruling Democrat Party dissolution case.

The court ruling came after a session of evidence examination on alleged 29 million baht mishandling of party financial records, an offense punishable by disbandment.

Thailand's charter has prohibited a political party from receiving donation worth over 10 million baht (310,170 U.S. dollars) a year from an individual or a company.

The high court instructed the prosecution to file testimonies in writing for those not summoned to take the witness stand.

Presiding judge Udomsak Nitimontri has scheduled for prosecution witnesses to testify in four sessions starting on August 9, which coincides with the prosecution opening statement, Aug. 23, Aug. 30, and Sept. 6.

Source: Xinhua