Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra is expected to appear at the hearing of the Thai Constitutional Court to try the leaked recording of the conversation between her and President of the Cambodian Senate Hun Sen.
The information was revealed by Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra's General Secretary, Mr. Prommin Lertsuridej, when commenting on the court's decision to summon Ms. Paetongtarn - the suspended Prime Minister of Thailand and currently the Minister of Culture - to the court for a hearing on August 21.
The court summoned Ms. Paetongtarn and Secretary General of the National Security Council of Thailand Chatchai Bangchuad for this hearing.
When asked if Ms. Paetongtarn would be attending, Mr. Prommin said: "When the time comes, we will know. I believe she will decide for herself and she may attend."
Ms. Paetongtarn's Secretary General expressed his confidence that what her working group did was "with goodwill and for the country".
Prommin said he was not concerned that the court only summoned Mr. Chatchai while Ms. Paetongtarn's group of lawyers had submitted 5 witnesses.
Prime Minister Chousak Sirinil said that Ms. Paetongtarn's testimony in court regarding the leaked recording was based on fact and that she did not intend to harm the honor or position of the country.
Ms. Paetongtarn has the right to appear in court or appoint a legal representative on her behalf, he said. This will not affect the progress of the case because it all depends on whether the data is clarified or not.
Meanwhile, former member of the Thai Election Commission Somchai Srisutthiyakorn warned that the case could escalate if the court ruled Ms. Paetongtarn's phone call to Mr. Hun Sen illegal. He noted that the court's ruling "is binding in all state agencies".
He also cited the provisions of the Penal Code related to crimes against national security. The provisions include Article 120 on the crime of plotting with foreign countries to fight against Thailand, Article 121 on the crime of Thai citizens fighting or joining the country's enemy, Article 122 on the crime of supporting the enemy, Article 123 on the crime of collecting national security secrets, and Article 124 on the crime of disclosing national secrets.
After a hearing with two witnesses on August 21, the Thai Constitutional Court will issue a verdict on the leaked exchange between Ms. Paetongtarn and Mr. Hun Sen on August 29. Judges will determine whether the exchange between Ms. Paetongtarn and Mr. Hun Sen constitutes a serious violation of ethics.
This week, when asked if she will attend the hearing on August 21, Ms. Paetongtarn told the press that her birthday is August 21. When asked if she would stay until the last minute as Thai Prime Minister, Ms. Paetongtarn did not respond.
