Lawyers representing ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday submitted a closing statement in the Bt76-billion asset-seizure case to the Supreme Court, which is due to deliver its verdict on February 26.
According to the closing remarks of fugitive Thaksin, the Asset Examination Committee (AEC), which investigated the case, was biased and distorted facts to support its charges.
The defence team also insisted that the Bt76 billion resulting from the sale of Shin Corp's majority shares to Temasek Group of Singapore in 2006 did not belong to Thaksin and his former wife, Khunying Pojaman.
Since that huge amount of money belongs to other family members and relatives - those who obtained the shares transferred by Thaksin and his wife prior to taking public office in 2001 - the state could not forfeit the money as requested by public prosecutors.
The defence also told the court in the closing statement that the funds were accumulated by Thaksin and his family in a lawful way before the taking of public office.
While holding public office, Thaksin said he had never abused his powers to benefit his family's business empire as alleged by prosecutors, who, however, cited five instances in which Shin Corp had gained from government measures during 2001-06.
The defence also counter-charged that the asset-seizure case was politically motivated in the wake of the September 2006 coup which overthrew his government.
As a result, the case should be dismissed.
Chat-tip Tanprasat, a Thaksin lawyer, said the former premier is innocent as far as the charges are concerned and it is untrue that the UK had forfeited Thaksin's other overseas assets.
Meanwhile, Surasak Trirat-trakul, the public prosecutor in charge of this case, said the prosecution's closing remarks will be wrapped up shortly before the court's deadline.
