Pojaman faces prosecution
An Assets Examination Committee (AEC) subcommittee will today recommend the prosecution of Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, her brother Bhanapot Damapong and four of her employees after it ruled they had conspired to evade paying taxes.
The subcommittee's inquiry has concluded that the six intentionally violated the revenue and criminal codes, chairman Sak Korsaengruang said. If convicted, the accused could face up to seven years in jail, he said. Sak said if the paperwork was ready, he would submit his formal recommendation to the AEC today. The allegations centre on a 1997 Shinawatra Computer and Telecommunications share transaction in which Bhanapot received 4.5 million shares in the company as a "gift". The Sak panel recommended Bhanapot pay Bt546 million in restitution for unpaid tax. The six have denied the allegations. They did not appear before the panel and only submitted written testimonies. The four others ruled to have conspired to evade tax on the transaction are Wanchai and Kanchanapa Honghern, both personal secretaries to Pojaman, Pranee Wetchapruek and Duangta Wongpakdee, a domestic worker in the Shinawatra household.
Bancha Khaengkhan The Nation
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