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Published on July 4, 2007

The letter has warned the AEC to stop harassing him and his family members and from making defamatory comments. It demands the panel revoke the freeze on bank accounts.

The six family members referred to in the letter are Thaksin, Pojaman, Panthong-tae, Pinthongta and Yinglak Shinawatra and Bhanapot Damapong.

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadon Pattama believed the letter was genuine and written by the former PM. He did not think anyone else "would dare to take such action".

Apisak Apassompob delivered the letter to the AEC.

The letter warned the AEC that if it did not stop its investigations within three days, Thaksin would initiate legal action. The letter is not signed by a lawyer. The letter demands the AEC pay Thaksin and other family members the equivalent of interest at 7.5 per cent a year lost since accounts were frozen on June 11.

The letter claimed the freeze violated announcement No 30 of the Council for Democratic Reform, now the Council for National Security. It adds the committee committed malfeasance by illegally freezing the accounts and thereby causing damage and loss to the holders.

Meanwhile, Finance Minis-try permanent secretary Supa-rat Kawatkul yesterday told the Criminal Court that transfers of Shinawatra Computer and Telecommunications shares in 1997 should have been taxed.

Prosecution witness Suparat was formerly director-general of the Revenue Department.

Public prosecutors have charged Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, her brother Bhana-pot Damapong and secretary Kanchana Honghern of conspiring to evade tax worth Bt546 million in the transfer of Bt738 million in Shinawatra Compu-ter and Telecommuni-cation shares.

Prosecutor Seksan Bang-sombun explained that Suparat had said in 2005 - when he was director-general - that the transfer was subject to tax. At the time he ordered the removal of five department officials for not taxing the transfer.

In a related development, Suparat is among seven state officials the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) this week decided to investigate for possible wrongdoing in connection with tax payments by the Shinawatra family over its sale of Shin Corp last year.

Suparat said outside the court yesterday that he was unconcerned over the AEC probe against him in connection with the Shin share sale.

AEC spokesman Sak Kor-saengruang said Suparat would not be suspended from duty during the probe.

He said Suparat had notified the National Counter Corrup-tion Commission that the sale was made below market prices, but was still subject to tax. However, he later told the media it was not liable to tax.

Budsarakham  Sinlapalavan

The Nation