More evidence needed for land purchase deal of Thaksin's wife
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) asked the Assets Examination Committee Thursday for more evidence on the Ratchadapisek land purchase to make the case against ousted premier and his wife more solid.
Auditor General Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka and public prosecutors met Udom Fuangfung, chairman of AEC's subcommittee probing the land deal, to discuss the case. Udom said prosecutors wanted documents about the issuing of bonds by the FIDF (Financial Institutions Development Fund), which they believe will make the case stronger. He said he would ask the FIDF for the documents and submit them to prosecutors next week. The AEC has filed a suit accusing Thaksin and his wife for corruption over the land sale. Deputy Attorney General Somsak Boonthong, who chairs the OAG panel exam¬ining the land deal, expressed confidence that prosecutors would decide on whether to accept the suit within the deadline. Somsak said his panel would reach an opinion on a complaint from Thaksin about the landpurchase probe when they decide whether to indict him. He said Thaksin's complaint requested prosecutors to summon evidence on the FIDF's land deal with Erawan Trust Finance and Securities Co. Thaksin claimed Udom's panel refused to include this evidence in its probe. The FIDF sold the land plot on Rama IX Road to Pojaman in 2003 for Bt772 million, which was over an appraisal price of about Bt700 million. The AEC claims the fund lost money on the deal because it bought the land from Erawan Trust Finance and Securities for Bt2 billion in 1995. Meanwhile, former deputy interior minister Pramuan Ruchanaseree reported to the AEC on Thursday to hear and defend himself against corruption charges related to a government scheme to purchase rubber saplings. Pramuan said it was unfair of the AEC to accuse Thaksin's entire cabinet because the then agriculture minister Newin Chidchob was solely responsible for the scheme. "The corruption took place not during cabinet consideration but by people who implemented the project," he alleged. He raised objections to the scheme in the cabinet meeting but there were no records, he said. "The Thaksin cabinet meetings were a joke. There was no transparency. There were no signatures of those who attended the meeting, there were no meeting records," he said. Pramuan is among 90 people, including ministers, permanent officials, and company executives, the AEC has accused of involvement in corruption in the rubber sapling purchase scheme. Six other former ministers are scheduled to hear the charges against them. The Nation
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