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Published on July 19, 2007

Assets Examination Committee (AEC) chairman Nam Yimyaem said the committee will file a lawsuit against Pojaman Shinawatra for alleged tax evasion in the Shin Corp share sale even though she has refused to give statements.

Pojaman, wife of former premier Thaksin, is scheduled to give testimony before the AEC today over the Shin Corp share sale. Nam said that if she does not turn herself in as summoned, she might face legal action.

If she turns herself in but refuses to give a statement, the AEC can bring the case to court, Nam said.

Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser for Thaksin and Pojaman, said yesterday that Pojaman was in the United Kingdom and was unlikely to present herself before the special anti-graft panel. He said her lawyers would submit the necessary documents on her behalf.

Accompanied by his lawyer, the ex-PM's son Panthongtae Shinawatra showed up at the AEC office yesterday but refused to give statements on the Shin Corp share sale.

Viroj Loahapan, chairman of an AEC subcommittee investigating the Shin Corp share sale, said he would seek an AEC ruling on the legal action against Panthongtae over his refusal to give statements.

Panthongtae submitted a 10-page document to show his intention not to give testimony.

Somporn Pongsuwan, the lawyer who accompanied Panthongtae, also submitted a letter from Pojaman to show her intention not to give a statement. The AEC panel refused to accept the letter, saying it was not the date of the appointment. The lawyer could submit the letter today.

Apart from Panthongtae and Pojaman, it is expected that Bussaba Damapong and Kanchanapa Honghern, Pojaman's secretary, will also not give statements.

The panel will seek an AEC ruling on whether these people violated provisions 25 (1) and 118 of the National Counter Corruption law, which are punishable by up to six months in jail, a source said.

Nam said the AEC will find out why financial institutions allowed the frozen assets of the Shinawatra family to be moved and transferred. The agency will ask 60 financial institutions to report on what transactions were made after the order to freeze the assets was announced.

Noppadon Pattama said Panthongtae exercised his right in accordance with criminal law by not giving statements to the AEC.

He said that the Shinawatra family had been cooperating with the AEC by giving testimony but the information was used against them to freeze their assets.

Budsarakham

Sinlapalavan

The Nation