Thaksin may have carried assets away

Three separate panels are due to start investigating the possible corruption of the Thaksin administration today, amid a spectacular new charge.

The Associated Press quoted anonymous officials at Thai Airways International (THAI) as saying ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may have whisked some of his assets out of the country aboard two aircraft in the days before last Tuesday night's military coup ousted him from power.

The AP says its source has mixed emotions. He (the agency said it was a male) demanded anonymity from the news agency's Thai reporter because company policy did not allow him to speak to the press. But he said he wanted the new ruling Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy to investigate the allegations.

Asked about Mr Thaksin taking his assets abroad, CDRM spokesman Lt-Gen Palangoon Klaharn told the AP: "No comment. I can't comment on that."

There are three panels probing possible corruption, all scheduled to meet today but separately. They are a new, nine-member National Counter Corruption Commission, the respected Office of the Attorney General, and a brand new group also ordered by the CDRM, an eight-member panel chaired by Sawat Chotephanich.

Details are slim, but it is possible the latter panel may take over all investigations, at the direction of the CDRM, which not seems fixed on investigating and possibly seeking the extradition of Mr Thaksin on graft charges.

Speculation has been rife that Mr Thaksin may have sneaked money out of the country in the days leading up to the coup. He left for Finland to begin a long, multi-nation foreign tour on Sept 9, loading up his government-assigned aircraft with 58 large suitcases and trunks, the official of the national carrier said.

The prime minister's aircraft, named Thai Koofah, was then left parked in Finland for more than a week as Mr Thaksin continued on his trip around the country on other transportation, the AP reports.

A second aircraft carrying 56 suitcases - an Airbus 340-600 - was dispatched from Bangkok On Sept 17 (two days before the coup) to meet up with the prime minister just days before the coup, the THAI official said. It is not even clear there were any other Thaksin party members on this second aircraft.

Source:- Bangkok Post

Looks as though they will go after his assets. I also read that his wife flew out today to London to be with Taksin, I wonder how many suitcases she was carrying :lol:

There is also a related thread with reports from The Nation

http://talk-thailand.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2419