Under the Procedural Code of the Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders, the whereabouts of the two defendants must be established otherwise the court has to suspend the case pending the completion of the search.

Prosecutors have until July 9 to identify where Thaksin and Pojaman are actually living.

In his instruction, chief presiding judge Thonglor Chom-ngam said prosecutors only mentioned two legal residences - one for Thaksin and another for Pojaman.

Thaksin maintains his official residence at his Chan Song-lah home on Charan Sanitwong Road in Bangphlat district while Pojaman claims her legal domicile at their first home on Nakhon Chaisi Road in Dusit district.

Thonglor said since the two defendants were absent when the prosecution filed its writ, the court must require their whereabouts and not just their legal residences.

Reacting to the court's instruction, deputy chief prosecutor Nanthasak Pool-suk said he would co-ordinate with relevant agencies to locate Thaksin and Poja-man. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Assets Examination Com-mittee should be able to obtain addresses claimed by the two as their new homes.

Under routine procedures for criminal litigation, if the defendants are outside the country for less than two years, prosecutors can report their domestic residence as their domicile without having to check the address abroad, he said.

But this case falls under the purview of the special court, whereby the judge can demand additional information, he said.

Kesinee Taengkhieo,

Bancha Khaengkhan

The Nation