Quote:[quote]Thai ex-premier faces corruption charges

From correspondents in Bangkok

December 26, 2006 05:39pm
Article from: AAP

THE Bank of Thailand will file corruption charges against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra after graft-busters found two fraudulent cases involving the deposed leader.

The central bank would bring the case to a criminal court, Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula said today.

Corruption busters appointed by Thailand's ruling junta found yesterday that Mr Thaksin was involved in an alleged overpriced purchase of equipment at Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi airport and a controversial land deal in 2003.

The junta, which came to power after toppling the Thaksin government in a bloodless coup in September, justified the putsch by saying that rampant corruption during his five years in office had undermined democracy.

The army-installed Government is investigating his family's business deals, including their January sale of Shin Corp shares to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, for alleged violations of Thai laws.

Mr Thaksin's family sold their 49 per cent stake in Shin Corp, a telecom giant founded by the ousted premier, to the Singaporean state-linked investment firm for $US1.9 billion ($2.43 billion) under a tax free deal.

The tax deal triggered months of street protests demanding Mr Thaksin's resignation over alleged abuse of power and corruption, culminating in the September coup.

After the power grab, the military reinstated the anti-corruption commission, which had been dormant for more than a year, and set up the Asset Scrutinising Committee with the power to seize assets from Thaksin and other former officials.

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Ex-premier, wife found guilty of illegal land purchase from FIDF

BANGKOK, Dec 26 (TNA) – The Asset Examination Committee has found ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Pojaman guilty of the latter’s purchase of land on Ratchadaphisek road and the deposed premier and former transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit of the controversial purchase of CTX 9000 bomb detection equipment and conveyors at inflated prices.

Sak Korsaengruang, the committee’s spokesman, said AEC met on Monday to conclude the examination by the sub-committee of the purchase of land by Khunying Pojaman from the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF).

The sub-committee chaired by Udom Fuengfung concluded that Thaksin, who was then prime minister, is considered a state official having the duty to supervise the FIDF.

So, the then premier was prohibited from making any contracts or becoming party in any contract or transaction with state agencies because he could gain benefits or losses from his actions.

So, it found the ex-premier guilty under the National Counter Corruption Commission provisions 100 (1) and 122.

Mr. Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman, likewise, is prohibited from becoming a party or seeking benefit improperly. So, she is also found guilty of misconduct and corruption.

Mr. Sak said that the AEC also found Mr. Thaksin, Mr. Suriya and 11 of his associates guilty of corruption in the tainted contract regarding conveyors and CTX 9000 bomb scanners between the New Bangkok International Airport and the ITO Joint Venture for the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

TNA

Thaksin will return to prove innocence, says legal advisor

BANGKOK, Dec 26 (TNA) - Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return to Thailand to defend himself and his family if an assets probe panel levels charges against him over alleged corruption, Noppadol Pattama, a legal advisor to the Shinawatra family said on Tuesday.

Mr. Noppadol told a press conference that he had discussed the matter with Mr. Thaksin Tuesday morning by telephone in his self-imposed exile in Beijing, after the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) announced Monday that it had grounds to believe the ousted premier was involved in the alleged corruption cases.

AEC spokesperson Sak Korsaengruang said the panel found that Mr. Thaksin, former Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, and 20 other officials had abused their power in the procurement of the baggage handling system and 26 CTX 9000 bomb scanners for Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi airport.

The panel also found Mr.Thaksin and his wife Pojaman guilty in regard to the 2003 land purchase in which Khunying Pojaman bought a Bt772 million tract of land in central Bangkok from the Bank of Thailand's Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) through a bidding process that was allegedly pre-determined in ways that benefited Khunying Pojaman while her husband was in power as prime minister.

Mr. Noppadol reaffirmed that Mr. Thaksin had no involvement in the two cases.

He said both cases were politicised by the Council for National Security (CNS) and the AEC which wanted to demonstrate their achievements during the three months since the CNS, known before as the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR), staged its coup d'etat toppling the Thaksin government on September 19.

Besides, he said, regarding the land deal the assets examiners tried to interpret laws in such a way that Mr. Thaksin and his wife were seen to be guilty.

"When charges are levelled against him, Mr. Thaksin needs to come back to prove his innocence," Mr. Noppadol said. "He cannot fight charges while living overseas." As a Thai citizen, the lawyer asserted, Mr.Thaksin has the right to do so.

The Thaksin family attorney presented a letter to the AEC on Tuesday morning, asking to postpone the testimony to the panel of Mr.Thaksin's son, Panthongtae, daughter Pinthongta, and Khunying Pojaman's secretary Kanchanapha Honghern, regarding the Shin Corp share transfer from December 27 to a yet-to-be-determined date next month.

Earlier, the AEC had ordered the trio to appear and to be prepared to give information and answer questions regarding their case on December 27.

TNA