Pichit Chuenban, the authorised lawyer for Pojaman, said Udom's statement that his panel would recommend that the court seize the land was "unlawful and lacked morality".

He said if Pojaman were poor and had to place the plot with a bank as collateral, no bank would accept the land. "This statement has caused damage to Khunying Pojaman," he claimed.

Udom said that Pojaman could sell the Ratchadaphisek plot now, because the AEC could not seize it until a court ruled that she had committed an offence. If Pojaman sold the land during court hearings - and the court ruled that she committed an offence - the land would still be confiscated.

Meanwhile, Udom said the AEC would meet next Monday to discuss whether an objection from people accused over the appointment of investigative panel members to probe the two-and three-digit lottery scheme were reasonable.

He said that given the accused objected to his appointment, he would not attend the meeting.

Also, AEC secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi said yesterday he would quit his post at the end of September, even though the government resolved to extend the AEC's term.

The Surayud Cabinet decided this week to extend the AEC's term till a new government was appointed, after the election, due to be held in December.