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Published on August 23, 2007

Graft busters yesterday requested details of a holding company registered in London that is linked to the assets listed as belonging to members of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's family.

The request was made by the Amnuay Tantara panel, which is reviewing Thaksin's frozen assets. It was part of an appellate review of an order to impound Bt2 billion linked to SC Office Plaza Co.

SC Office Plaza is linked to Thaksin and suspected of helping him to stash part of Bt73 billion paid by Singapore's Temasek Holdings for the major stake in Shin Corp in January last year.

The panel convened yesterday hearing to consider a plea by the company to dismiss orders to freeze some assets.

In a statement given by the company's representative, it said Bt2 billion in funds was transferred by Thaksin's daughter Pinthongta on June 5 to pay for the company's recapitalisation of 200 million shares at Bt10 par value.

The recapitalisation was part of the company's preparations to invest in London-based Shinawatra Family Assets Ltd, which came into existence in April.

The representative could not explain the company's planned investment and promised to submit additional evidence by September 14, the date of the next hearing.

Kanchanapa Honghern, private secretary to Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman, is scheduled to testify for the company at the next hearing.

Meanwhile, a commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2 said yesterday members of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's family will face arrest warrants if they fail to appear at hearings on any charges linked to the controversial sale of Shin Corp.

The commander Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano spoke after the Assets Examination Committee legal adviser Montien Charoenphol sought to lay charges against the former PM's wife Pojaman, his son Panthongtae, Bussaba Damapong and Pojaman's secretary Kanchanapa Honghern.

All had failed to testify after being summoned to appear before a special anti-graft panel.

Major General Amnuay said police would collect evidence, then summons the accused to testify. If the four did not respond, police would issue arrest warrants for them.

Budsarakham

Sinlapalavan

The Nation