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Corruption panel recommends graft charges for Thaksin

An anti-graft panel has recommended that criminal charges be filed against deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife over a questionable land purchase that earned them millions of dollars, an official said yesterday.

Thaksin and his wife, Pojamarn Shinawatra, are accused of violating a conflict of interest law that carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment, said Udom Fuengfung, who headed the inquiry for the Assets Examination Committee (AEC). A criminal court must still determine whether to accept the case.

The AEC's recommendation late on Monday was the latest move toward attempts to indict Thaksin, his family and colleagues on corruption charges.

Thaksin was accused of massive corruption during his two terms in office and the military cited graft allegations as one of the key justifications for staging a bloodless coup against him in September.

purchase

The 772 million baht (US$23 million) land deal was among 13 cases under investigation by military-appointed panels.

The case deals with Pojamarn's 2003 purchase of some prime Bangkok real estate from the Financial Institutions Development Fund, a state rescue fund directed by the central bank. Its value reportedly doubled two months after she bought it.

"Mr Thaksin and his wife violated article 152 of the criminal law, which deals with conflict of interest, for illegally benefiting from state property," Udom said.

Anti-corruption laws bar a prime minister or his spouse from doing business with a government agency.

Thaksin was overseas at the time of the September coup and has not returned to Thailand since.

The AEC said that if Thaksin wants to testify on his behalf the panel would allow him to do so in person, in writing or would send an official to meet him abroad, Udom said.

Last month, the AEC recommended that criminal tax evasion charges be filed against Pojamarn and her brother for failing to pay almost 546 million baht, in taxes on a 1997 transfer of shares in the family business. The case involved the transfer of stock in the family business, later known as Shin Corp, through the Shinawatras' maid.

terror

Meanwhile, the defense minister yesterday revised his warning about possible terror attacks in Bangkok, saying the threat did not come from Muslim insurgents but political forces abroad -- an apparent reference to Thaksin.

Defense Minister General Boonrod Somtad said last week he feared that Muslim insurgents in Thailand's restive south could extend their attacks to the capital.

Yesterday he said he wanted to "clarify" that possible attacks could be politically motivated by a "man who is in exile and capable of causing trouble in the country."

The government has also said that a wave of New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok, which killed three and injured dozens, were carried out by Thaksin supporters -- an accusation Thaksin has denied.
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