Pheu Thai MP wants to know why tax will be sought on shares now seen as Thaksin's
Kittiporn Arunrat said the defence team was waiting for a copy of the full court verdict, which should be available this week.
"The lawyers will carefully study the verdict on each of the issues. We have 30 days to complete the job but may have to ask for an extension," he said, referring to the deadline set by law for filing appeals.
"We will do our best to appeal the case. We have the legal right to do so, and will prove that Panthongtae and Pinthongta are the real holders of the shares," he said.
Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Patama confirmed yesterday that the defence team would appeal against the court ruling. He added that they still had doubts about some issues, such as the court accepting an order made by coup-makers and its ignorance of a previous Constitutional Court ruling that it was lawful to convert telecom concession fees into excise taxes.
On Friday, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders ordered the seizure of more than Bt46 billion of Thaksin's assets found to have been earned dishonestly while serving as prime minister. The court found that Thaksin used his children as nominees to hold massive shares in the family-owned Shin Corp.
Meanwhile, Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that according to the Constitution, filing an appeal in such a case should involve new facts, not legal points. He was responding to a report that the defence team planned to question the legitimacy of the Assets Examination Committee, which was appointed by coup-makers in 2006 and whose investigation led to the case against Thaksin.
Attorney-General Julasing Wasantasing said his agency would review allegations against Thaksin and work with relevant agencies to determine if more cases should be brought to court.
Medhi Krongkaew, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said at their meeting today, the NACC commissioners had no agenda to discuss an OAG request for the NACC to take criminal action against Thaksin for filing false reports about his financial status. He said the NACC would have to carefully study the verdict before taking any action on the matter.
Director general of the Comptroller General's Department, Pongpanu Sawetarun, said yesterday that if no appeal was submitted within 30 days, the agency would put the Bt46 billion ordered seized in the state coffers.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai MP Surapong Tovichakchaikul, in his capacity as chairman of the House committee on monetary affairs, finance, banking and financial institutions, said he would summon the Revenue Department's director-general to explain the Bt12 billion demanded as taxes from Panthongtae and Pinthongta. He said the Supreme Court had ruled that Thaksin was the real holder of the shares.
Surapong, whose party is pro-Thaksin, also said that he would petition the NACC to examine the financial reports filed by the Cabinet members to determine if any had used their spouses or children as nominees to hold shares.
