The securities watchdog found evidence that transactions in purchasing and selling natural-gas cylinders recorded in 2005 financial statements were made for the benefit of the two former executives.

The commission filed the same complaint against three alleged accomplices: Thanachai Roamphan, Anant Kiatkamjornpatana and Saengthongthai Bucket Manufacturing Co.

Meanwhile, the commission yesterday instructed Power P Plc to rectify its second-quarter financial statement, because the company's auditor noted the statement was not in line with accounting standards.

The revised financial statement must be submitted to the commission by November 13.

Mega-projects to go ahead

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula said yesterday that the construction of three more subway routes in Bangkok would proceed.

Speaking in Chiang Mai, where he was participating in Money Expo, Pridiyathorn said two more mega-projects the ministry would focus on were increasing train cargo shipments and a water-management project to alleviate water shortages in the dry season and flooding in the rainy season.

He also said he was waiting for a committee report on whether to scrap the lottery programme before making a final decision.

Central bank to submit bills

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) plans to submit several financial bills to the Finance Ministry by the end of the month, so that the ministry can forward them to the National Legislative Assembly for final approval.

Acting BOT Governor Tarisa Watanagase said the bills, which were not screened by the Senate during the previous government, had been revised.

"If they [the bills] become law, the central bank's regulatory standards would be close to international ones."

The bills would empower the central bank to control financial institutions.