1st day of prosecution witnesses

On the 8th July 2008 the first witnesses were called, the Prosecution called four witnesses; Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai (นายชวน หลีกภัย), Former Prime Minister Banharn Silpha-Archa (นายบรรหาร ศิลปอาชา), Mr. Veera Somkwamkit (นายวีระ สมความคิด) and Mrs. Kalayani Rujtolakal (นางสาวกัลยาณี รุทระกาญจน์).





Both Former Prime Ministers testified about the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Financial Institutes Developement Fund(FIDF). Both Banharn and Chuan told the court that the prime minister would not directly give orders to the FIDF as the fund is overseen by the Bank of Thailand, which works under the Finance Ministry. Mr Banharn told the court that whilst he was the prime minister he did not have the authority to supervise the FIDF, which comes under the Bank of Thailand, or any other state enterprise. Mr Chuan said the law does not authorise the prime minister to supervise the FIDF. Only the finance minister has that authority, he said. But the prime minister is empowered to oversee the operations of the Finance Ministry, he said.

Activist Veera Somkwamkit, who formally petitioned the AEC to investigate the Ratchada Land deal by Pojaman Shinawatra, testified that he approached the AEC as no other legal body was prepared to petition the AEC. He also testified that he believed that there must have been some form of corruption, as FIDF had made a net loss of more than 1.1 billion baht on the 772 million baht sale. He also petitioned the court to revoke bail for both Thaksin and Pojaman Shinawatra, citing the recent 2 million baht attempted bribery by Thaksin's lawyers. As a formal application from the prosecution was not made, the court did not rule on the petition.


The final witness on the first day of witness testimony was Kalayanee Rutharakarn, Secretary General of the National Debtors Coordination Centre, who also raised questions over why the land was sold to Pojaman at such a low price. Kalayanee told the court it was very unusual as the FIDF would normally never sell anything at a loss. This was rebutted by the defence lawyers who gave several examples of land which was auctioned by the FIDF below the official appraisal value. Mrs Rutharakarn retorted by saying, "No matter what happens, they can't incur a loss, The Financial Institution Development Fund must have made some mistake, which led to damage to the fund itself."

The court adjourned noting that as scheduled the Prosecution would continue to present witness in one weeks time, on the 15th July 2008.