Acting on behalf of the ministry, the Provincial Administration Department outlined how and why local revenues were adversely impacted by tax exemption unlawfully granted to two-and three-digit lotteries.

The complaint was lodged at the request of the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) to build up the case for prosecution.

Two weeks ago, the AEC asked the Interior Ministry and the Finance Ministry to step forward as aggrieved parties over the illegal lotteries.

Faced with a slow response, it scheduled an April 2 hearing for testimonies from Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya and Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn.

It remains unclear if Aree would still have to testify in the light of the compliance with the AEC's request.

Chalongphob said he was ready to give his statement rebutting his alleged inaction. "I have no involvement with the illegal lotteries and am willing to fully cooperate with the AEC," he said.

Ministry officials were studying the "legal details" on how best to spell out the complaint to meet the requirements of the AEC, he said, voicing uncertainty whether the complaint could be completed within this week.

AEC member Udom Fuang-fung said the legal proceedings on the illegal lotteries case could move forward only after the Finance Ministry lodged its complaint.

 Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) will soon wrap up its inquiries into corruption in the Ban Ua Athorn housing project and Krung Thai Bank loan extensions.

DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom said his department used the files on the two cases made by the Assets Examination Committee as part of its investigation. DSI investigators need to gather a few more details before they prosecute suspects in the two cases.

"We are working on some details, which will help us nail down politicians who laundered money from corruption in the two cases,'' he said.

Sunai said the department has worked with the Anti Money Laundering Commission to impound the money. The DSI has appointed Police Colonel Suchart Wongananchai to head a panel to investigate money laundering in the Ban Ua Athorn project.

Meanwhile, an AEC source said that most suspects in the corruption scandal over Suvarnabhumi Airport's CTX bomb detection machines are expected to postpone hearing charges and prepare their defence by talking to those who have been summoned to hear the charges first.