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Shinawatras to file asset case appeals today


Lawyers will file appeals this afternoon against the Supreme Court's February 26 ruling to confiscate Bt46 billion from ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family.

Representing Thaksin, lawyer Chatthip Tanthaprasat yesterday said he would appear the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders this afternoon to appeal against the ruling in the assets-seizure case.

Ex-wife Pojaman na Pombejra, son Panthongtae Shinawatra and daughter Pinthongta Shinawatra will file separate appeals.

The Supreme Court, in its landmark ruling, decided Bt46 billion out of Bt76 billion, representing proceeds from the Shinawatras' sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, should be seized.

The court held the Shin shares belonged to Thaksin and his then-wife Pojaman during the entire time Thaksin was prime minister, creating a conflict of interest and corrupt policies.

Thaksin and Pojaman argued in court that they had transferred the Shin shares to their children and siblings before Thaksin assumed the premiership in February 2001.

Meanwhile, officials from the Finance Ministry, the Legal Execution Department and the Office of the Attorney-General have been exploring legal channels by which the Bt46 billion - frozen in banks - will be transferred to state coffers.

Chatthip declined to comment on this move, saying the officials had yet to make a formal request to have the Bt46 billion transferred to the state.

"Since we have not seen the details yet, it would not be appropriate for us to comment," he said.

Chatthip did not disclose whether the Shinawatras would appeal to the Supreme Court the Legal Execution Department's move to seize and transfer the Bt46 billion.

He said all details would be made clear in the Shinawatras' appeals.

However, in civil suits, once the Court has made its ruling, the Legal Execution Department automatically goes ahead and executes the assets seizure.

Yesterday, representatives of the Comptroller-General's Department, the Finance Ministry, the Legal Execution Department and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) met to outline a legal framework and an action plan to seize the Bt46 billion.

Deputy Attorney-General Waiyawut Lortrakul said the meeting had agreed to let the Finance Ministry execute the assets seizure.

The Supreme Court clearly specified which bank accounts held the money and from which ones the authorities could seize it.

Meanwhile, Pakdee Pothisiri, chairman of an NACC subcommittee, said it would submit details of an investigation into Thaksin's assets concealment to the NACC by Songkran.

If the NACC agrees with the report, it could immediately request public prosecutors file fresh charges against Thaksin.

The subcommittee is also close to completing an investigation into alleged negligence by state agencies in failing to preserve the state's best interests, Pakdee said.

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