A group against the planned constitution demonstrates in front of Parliament yesterday. The Constitution Drafting Assembly rejected the inclusion of a controversial ad hoc crisis council, but approved a five-year political ban on any party executive found

A freeze was ordered yesterday on seven more bank accounts to which more than Bt8 billion was transferred from accounts linked to the Shin Corp share sale that were frozen last week.

One of the targeted bank accounts belongs to Bhanapot Damapong, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's brother-in-law, and another is held in the name of Chinnisa Wongsawat, the daughter of Thaksin's sister Yaowapa.

The five other bank accounts belong to five different private companies, according to the Assets Examination Committee spokesman Sak Korsaengruang.

He said the freeze would only affect the Bt8 billion transferred into the bank accounts between June 4 and 11.

Those affected by the freeze have 60 days to protest and prove that their accounts have nothing to do with the tax-free Shin Corp sale to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, Sak said.

Five of the accounts were at the Bangkok Bank and the others with Siam Commercial Bank.

Sak, speaking at a press briefing held after the AEC meeting, said the committee would continue its hunt for an additional Bt20 billion missing from the 21 "frozen" bank accounts before June 4.

The subcommittee charged with hunting for the missing assets, headed by Auditor General Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka, would report to the full AEC panel this afternoon about the progress of its work.

Sak said the AEC might freeze more accounts found to have obtained money from the

21 bank accounts frozen last week.

The AEC, cited corruption charges against the ex-PM when it ordered a freeze on 21 accounts belonging to Thaksin, his wife Pojaman and other family members. About Bt53 billion was left in the bank accounts, down from Bt73 billion deposited from the sale of the family's stake in telecom giant Shin Corp in January last year.

Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser for the Shinawatra family, said he would hold a press conference today to explain Thaksin's investments in the real estate sector.

He would respond to suspicions why the withdrawn money was put in property firms at a time when the sector is suffering a downturn.

Last week, the lawyer explained the whereabouts of Bt23.4 billion withdrawn from Shinawatra bank accounts and put in real estate companies. His explanation led to further suspicion at the AEC and among observers.

Sak rejected speculation yesterday that certain AEC members might have leaked information about a freeze on the targeted bank-accounts to Thaksin, and gave him time to transfer a large chunk of his family's assets elsewhere.

Pojaman, who reportedly has been overseas, is scheduled to testify today before the AEC subcommittee investigating charges of tax evasion against her. The session has been postponed from June 6 at Pojaman's request. Sak said he didn't know if Pojaman would turn up today.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan,

Bancha Khaengkhan

The Nation