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Published on February 14, 2008

Pojaman completed the purchase deal with the FIDF in 2003 and was later charged with using her husband's influence to buy a prime piece of Bangkok real estate at one-third its estimated value.

Article 100 of the Coun-ter Corruption Act prohibits state officials or their spouses from engaging in contracts with state agencies.

Satorn Topothai, director of FIDF's legal and asset collection office, said yesterday the FIDF expected the court could make three possible rulings on the case.

First, the court could rule the transaction was legitimate. Or, it could consider the transaction as having no legal binding, meaning the FIDF would have to return Bt772 million to Pojaman, who would then have to give back the 33-rai land plot to the central bank. In the third scenario, the court may rule that Pojaman's land plot purchase was illegal and seize the land and/or the funds to become government assets.

Satorn said in this scenario the FIDF might have to take responsibility, which would lead to further process. He added the FIDF had clearly informed bidders they must clarify if their qualifications met with the legal requirements.

Anoma Srisukkasem

The Nation