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Published on February 9, 2008

"He will definitely return before May and his legal team will work out the exact date," said Noppadon, who used to be Thaksin's legal adviser and spokesman.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung also said he expected Thaksin to return soon. "It's time Thaksin came home," he said.

Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman had said earlier that her husband would return in May to defend himself against charges of abuse of power, while Chalerm had said that Thaksin would return on February 14, Valentine's Day.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday said he had heard that Thaksin recently visited Brazil, Argentina and Morocco.

"I heard this from other people. I don't have his phone number and I have never called him myself," Samak said.

Meanwhile, Pojaman yesterday sought and received temporary release pending the prosecution review of her alleged involvement in violating disclosure rules relating to her equity stake in the listed company SC Asset Corp.

Public prosecutors have scheduled March 28 to decide whether to proceed with the trial.

In a 1,000-page report submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General yesterday, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) accused Pojaman and three fellow suspects of disclosure violations as set out by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The violations occurred in 2003, when the family-run company for property development applied for a listing in the stock market.

The other suspects are Thaksin and two company executives, Penchom Damapong and Busaba Damapong.

DSI deputy director-general Pornchai Asawawata-naporn handed over the custody of three suspects - Pojaman, Penchom and Busaba - and notified the public prosecutors that Thaksin remains at large with an arrest warrant out against him.

DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom said there was no linkage between the forwarding of the report for prosecution and the arrival of the new government.

"The report on Pojaman's involvement was completed in December but needed rewriting," he said, adding that yesterday's indictment was proof that the new justice minister did not interfere with the DSI's work.

The Nation