Arson attack linked to Thaksin case

She said construction workers who were guarding the house told her that four men arrived in a pickup truck and another man in a car gave instructions to pour oil around the house and set fire to it. The fire did not spread because it was raining.

"I do not understand why they committed such an act. Why did they try to burn my house?'' she said.

Jaruwan said phone threats to her were not unusual but no one had ever dared to set her house on fire.

"There is one group who could be responsible who have accused me of being unusually rich by citing the cost of this house,'' she said.

She said the arsonists wanted her to be accused of attempting to destroy her own house as it could be used as evidence that she was unusually rich.

Deputy National Police Chief Pol-General Chongrak Chutanont said he and forensic science officers went to the house after he was informed about the incident at 2.40am. Police found six areas around the house, which had oil stains. Police are still questioning witnesses.

The Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship led by Wanchai Jongjaroonhiran had gone to the house before they petitioned the National Counter Corruption Commission in June accusing Jaruwan of being unusually rich for building a house that is worth more than Bt50 million.

Former AEC chairman, Nam Yimyaem said he believed the attack on Jaruwan's house was linked to an AEC investigation on graft charges against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Nam said AEC members had earlier faced phone threats and intimidation. He himself had not received death threats but strangers often called his law firm and made intimidating comments after the AEC had wrapped up its investigation and took the cases to court.

He felt that the arson attack was aimed at harassing Jaruwan in retaliation for her's and the AEC's success in the investigation.