Revenue Department rebuts allegation

Revenue Department director-general Sanit Rangnoi had orderred the spokesman to deny the allegation that the department instructed the bank to unfreeze the money in the account of Panthongtae and Pingthongta Shinawatra to return to them.

Sathit said the department wanted the money to be paid as tax and fine which would be an income for the state and not to return the money to the tax payers. He said if the department did not take action, it could be charged with dereliction of duty.

Democrat Party secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban threatened to take legal action against the Revenue Department for its move to unfreeze assets of Shinawatra family. "If any officials have committed any offence, we will take legal action against them,'' he said.

Suthep questioned the department's motive that it wanted to unfreeze the money to be paid as tax and fine.