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Published on December 12, 2007

Sonthi assigned the Anti Money Laundering Office and the Immigration Bureau to oversee the probe. "The investigation should be able to answer any [possible] links to campaigning," he said.

If connections were found to the upcoming poll or political parties, the case would be forwarded to the Election Commission (EC) for appropriate action, he said.

He refused to speculate on the possible involvement of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was in Hong Kong for a meeting last week, when the cash was uncovered.

PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan said the authorities detected an unusual movement of businessmen carrying cash from Hong Kong over the past week.

Each businessman had up to Bt20 million, he said, noting that the money was declared on arrival and the authorities would have to verify how the money was spent.

Apichart Sukhagganond, the EC chairman, said the EC also discussed the matter during the commission meeting yesterday. He said the AMLO had to investigate this case.

"A senior person told me about the cash, but we are not sure if it will be used for the upcoming election," he said.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission will rule today if the junta tampered with the electoral process by undermining the People Power Party, chairman Apichart Sukhag-ganond said yesterday.

The matter relates to classified junta documents.

"General Winai Phattiyakul submitted original copies of the documents and testified about pertinent legal issues," Apichart said, adding the commission had sufficient evidence and information to form a judgement following the testimony of the junta secretary.

He said the original documents did not differ from photocopies that appeared in news coverage. The commission would outline comparisons between copies supplied by the People Power Party and the originals.

Regarding the video-taped remarks of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, commission member Sumeth Ubanisakorn said it was scheduled to consider the matter today.

Sumeth said this would likely lead to the formation of a fact-finding committee.

Activist Veera Somkwamkid officially asked the commission to resolve the video issue as quickly as possible.

He submitted two of the discs that were distributed in the Northeast and Central regions.

The Nation