Democrat Party deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr yesterday threatened to investigate alleged irregularities behind a bank loan worth Bt800 million for a housing estate project that is linked to a sister of Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Alongkorn was referring to Beverly Hill housing estate on Chaeng Wattana Road, which belongs to Srangsin Property Co Ltd. Alongkorn on Saturday alleged Srangsin Property was owned by Shinnisha Wongsawat, a daughter of Thaksin's sister Yaowapha Wongsawat.

Alongkorn conceded that Srangsin Property had undergone a change of shareholders.

He said Beverly Hill was previously named Shinnisha Ville.

Alongkorn accused Yaowapha of appearing to be unusually rich, a charge she has vigorously denied.

Alongkorn cited Beverly Hill as an example of properties that were linked to Yaowapha.

He noted that Srangsin Property appeared to have recorded an accumulative loss of Bt300 million during a period of three years from 2000 to 2002.

But it was granted a credit line worth Bt800 million to take over the Garden City Lagoon project.

Alongkorn said the project changed its name to Shinnisha Ville before it was renamed Beverly Hill on February 24, the day Thaksin dissolved Parliament and called a snap election.

The Democrat deputy leader also alleged there were irregularities behind a bid to lease software to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat).

Alongkorn said he would file a complaint with the auditor-general Jaruwan Maintaka today, asking her to audit the project.

He alleged the project was granted to a joint venture of Monthatip Kowitcharoenkul, another sister of Thaksin, after other bidders were eliminated on grounds of lacking technical qualifications.

He said the project's budget had ballooned from Bt700 million to Bt3.192 billion.