Two Singapore-based firms, with one registered in the British Virgin Islands; a shady deal; a Thai connection; and the Singaporeans standing to gain while the Thais lose out. Sound familiar? But this has nothing to do with the Temasek takeover of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Shin Corp.

This latest disclosure by the opposition Democratic Party could deal another blow to the embattled Thaksin. Deputy Democrat leader Alongkorn Polabutr said the scandal, involving the lucrative ground services contract at the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, was getting more intriguing.

Singapore-based Frobisher, through its 48.5-per-cent share in Thai Airport Ground Services (Tags), is set to take control of ground services at Bangkok's new airport for an annual fee of about Bt1 billion.

The Democrats claim the contract never went to public tender.

Frobisher is half-owned by Thai businesswoman Rawadi Jantawit, who has 50,000 shares in the company.

Her Thai address, as stated with the Singaporean registrar, has been traced to a deserted home linked to tales of evictions - and even the discovery by a neighbour of a dead body inside the residence.

Alongkorn has also shone the spotlight on another Singapore-based firm.

He claimed Detex, an advisory company registered in the British Virgin Islands, recommended Tags to Frobisher.

"It was Detex who advised Frobisher to buy a 48-per-cent stake in Tags," said Alongkorn. He alleged that Bt300 million was transferred out of Tags' account, possibly as an advisory fee for Detex.

Alongkorn also claimed there was a business connection between Rawadi and Detex directors, as the names of three of them appeared as founders of two other business companies.

"Is this another Singapore-Thai conspiracy?" said Alongkorn.

He called on the Thai authorities to investigate whether Tags has been enjoying business privileges at the airport since there was a connection with Frobisher.

"The Auditor General's Office should seriously look into the matter," he said.

In August 2004 it was discovered that the man who "owns" a British Virgin Islands firm that bought millions of Thai Military Bank (TMB) shares the previous year was no millionaire.

Yoo Siwarom, the registered owner of Private Media, which accepted a suspiciously generous offer from TV Channel 5 to buy TMB shares, was a second-hand car dealer living in a Bangkok townhouse with a run-down home in Ubon Ratchathani.