The Bank of Thailand (BOT) says it needs more time to consider Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra's request to transfer Bt400 million to the United Kingdom to buy a house in London, now that an American businessman suing her husband, Thaksin, has asked to block the transfer.

 The businessman is suing the former premier for Bt6 billion.

BOT assistant governor Nitaya Pibulratanagit said yesterday that William L Monson had written to the bank to ask that the transfer to be blocked. "We're assigning the legal department to consider if a person who is facing a lawsuit can take money out of the Kingdom," Nitaya said.

"We will not investigate the lawsuit but simply see whether the transfer is legal in principle," she explained.

Monson wrote to the Bank of Thailand on Tuesday, a day after BOT Governor Tarisa Watanagase said the central bank had no objection to Pojaman's request to take Bt400 million out of the country as long as all the documents were in order. Monson wrote: "This lawsuit is against Pol Lt-Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra, Khunying Pojaman's husband. Her transfer of that amount of money will jeopardise my case against her husband and will seriously harm me.

"I would like to formally request that you, as the governor of the Bank of Thailand, disapprove of the request of Khunying Pojaman ... as well as any requests from Thaksin.

"You and the Bank of Thailand will be held responsible for any damages that might be caused to me by your actions."

Monson, the manager of cable television operator CTVC of Hawaii, forged a partnership with International Broadcasting Corp (IBC) in the late 1980s. Thaksin was IBC's major shareholder and chairman. Later, Thaksin sued Monson for embezzlement.

Monson subsequently sued Thaksin for perjury, seeking Bt6 billion in compensation.