Thaksin's children could face punishment, AEC warns
Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra, son and daughter of former prime minister Thaksin, could be liable for punishment for failing to testify in person before the Assets Examination Committee (AEC), a panel member suggested yesterday.
Sak Korsaengruang said the AEC regulations entitle panel members to authority similar to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) in summoning documents and people as part of inquiries. "There is also a provision about punishment," he said. He was referring to a clause in the NCCC Act, which states that anyone failing to abide by an NCCC order is liable to be jailed for up to a month, or fined up to Bt10,000 - or both. The Shinawatra siblings were involved in the tax-free sale of Shin Corp shares held by Ample Rich Investments, their company registered in the British Virgin Islands, to Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Noppadon Pattama, a legal adviser to Thaksin's family, had said that Panthongtae and Pinthongta would submit their testimonies in writing, rather than appearing before the AEC in person. Noppadon insisted yesterday that the former PM's children would testify in person when the case went to a court. "They won't explain in person to the AEC. We see political influence surrounding the AEC. Negative attitudes abound towards the Shinawatras," he said. However, Noppadon said if there was a legal provision to require Panthongtae and Pinthongta to testify in person, his clients would abide by it. The lawyer also said the two siblings had not obtained any letter from the AEC that requested them to appear before the panel on December 27, as had been reported. Sak also said yesterday that the AEC would give Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman and her brother Bhanapot Damapong, plus four others, 15 days to explain a tax-free share transfer in 1997 to the panel. The AEC has accused the six of colluding to evade paying tax. In November 1997, Bhanapot received 4.5 million shares of Shinawatra Computer and Communication worth Bt738 million from Duangta Wongpakdi, a maid employed by the Shinawatras. Pojaman paid a Bt7.38-million purchase fee to the stock exchange. The committee has alleged that Pojaman paid for the purchase with an account-payee cheque to Duangta and that the cheque was later deposited into an account in the name of Pojaman. Klanarong Chantik, one of the AEC members, said yesterday that the six involved in the case - which includes Duangta - could testify in person or submit documents to answer the accusations.
Bancha Khaengkhan, Budsarakham Sinlapalavan The Nation
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