Bid to seize Bt76 bn from former PM

Public prosecutors have agreed to file a civil case against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, seeking a court order for Bt76 billion of his assets to be seized for corruption.

A joint working group of public prosecutors and National Counter Corruption Commissioners reached the agreement at its meeting on Wednesday, NCCC spokesman Klanarong Chantik said yesterday.

At the meeting, the joint working group discussed the charge by the Assets Examination Committee, which finished its term at the end of June, that Thaksin had further amassed his wealth dishonestly while in office.

The joint panel agreed that public prosecutors would file a civil case against the ex-PM with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, according to Klanarong. He said the panel would meet again next Wednesday to formally certify the decision before the case was filed with the court.

A criminal case has already been filed with the court against Thaksin in regard to his alleged irregularities while serving as government head.

The NCCC spokesman also said yesterday the agency had no authority to repeal the AEC order that froze more than Bt69 billion in assets held by members of Thaksin's family.

Commenting on Thaksin's request for the freeze order to be revoked, Klanarong said: "This matter is over".

He explained that the nine NCCC members recently discussed the matter and had voted unanimously that the agency had no power to repeal the AEC order.

"The asset freeze order will still be effective. It's because the AEC had the power to order asset freeze under the Order No 30 by the Council for Democratic Reform," he said, referring to the coup makers who overthrew Thaksin's government citing corruption as one of four main reasons for the September 2006 coup.

In response to a reporter's question on whether the NCCC had legal authority to keep Thaksin's assets frozen, Klanarong said: "You should not try to make any further implication out of this. The fact is the AEC's order on Thaksin's assets freeze continues to have effect."

He declined to comment on what Thaksin should do next to get his assets released.