Bangkok: Election Commissioner Thitichat avoided the media, refusing to answer whether the collusion case involving senators would conclude next week. He told students at the Political Science and Public Administration College that he had to rush to an Election Commission meeting after the opening ceremony.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thitichat Nuchanart, a member of the Election Commission, presided over the opening ceremony of the public presentation of operational strategies by students of the 16th Advanced Political and Election Development Program (APED). During the closing remarks, Mr. Nuchanart stated that a meeting was taking place at the Election Commission office while he was giving his speech, and therefore he could not stay to listen to the students' strategy presentation.

Reporters said that after finishing his speech, Mr. Thitichat quickly left the stage and exited through a side door of the conference room because a number of journalists were waiting to interview him at the front of the room. Election Commission officials prevented the media from following Mr. Thitichat.

As he walked away, reporters tried to ask whether the Election Commission would finalize its consideration of the Senate election collusion case within the next week. Mr. Thitichat did not answer any of the reporters' questions before quickly getting into his car and leaving.