Pridiyathorn called to testify on land deal
The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) will summon former finance minister Pridiyathorn Devakula to give information on the land purchase of Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of the ousted prime minister Thaksin, on April 18, AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said yesterday.
On the same day, the AEC will also summon Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn to file a complaint against members of the last government for allegedly illegally issuing two- and three-digit lotteries, Sak said. The ministry earlier filed a complaint but failed to indicate the alleged wrongdoers. Anti-corruption laws require damaged parties to file a complaint and indicate the alleged wrongdoers before the AEC can appoint an investigation committee and launch an investigation. Pridiyathorn, the former Bank of Thailand governor, earlier asked the AEC to postpone his appointment until April 25 because he was on holiday. The AEC will not allow Pojaman's lawyers to hear the testimonies, Sak said. Pojaman purchased a land plot from the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF), a branch of the Bank of Thailand. Thaksin is accused of abusing his authority as the supervisor of the FIDF, when Article 100 of the National Counter Corruption Commission Act prohibits any public office holder from exerting such influence.
Bancha Khaengkhan The Nation
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