A corruption panel probing a Bangkok land deal involving ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman will advocate seizure of the 33-rai plot and the Bt772 million payment, an official said yesterday.

The recommendation was likely be made to the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) on May 14, said Udom Fuangfung, chairman of the AEC panel probing the Shinawatras' purchase of the Ratchadaphisek block from the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF).

Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin hinted that the AEC would make front-page headlines within a few days.

Udom said his panel would suggest the AEC take recourse from Article 34 of the Criminal Code to confiscate both the land and money, because Pojaman unlawfully bought the land not long after her husband came to power.

It will take two weeks before the case can be forwarded to the Attorney-General's Office for prosecution, once the AEC rules on the recommendation.

Thaksin and Pojaman stand accused of violating Article 100 of the National Counter Corruption Act, which prohibits government officials, including prime ministers, and their spouses from entering into or having interests in contracts with state agencies under their supervision.

The panel will also advise that both Thaksin and Pojaman be tried in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, even though Pojaman is not regarded as a politician, but as a supporter.

The deal's history goes back 10 years through administrations headed by Banharn Silapa-archa, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Chuan Leekpai.

The property was taken over by the FIDF and transferred to Thai Asset Management Corp during the Banharn government.

It was put up for auction during the Chavalit and Chuan governments and finally sold to winning bidder Pojaman in 2003 during Thaksin's first administration.

Thaksin's written permission as a spouse, allowing Pojaman to enter into the land deal, is being used as evidence in the case.

AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem denied knowing about Sonthi's comment that the AEC would hit the front pages in a few days. He said he did not discuss the AEC's work with Sonthi and dismissed suspicions that such a comment could be seen as Sonthi interfering with the AEC.

He said the AEC has made major progress in the Ratchadaphisek case.

If Thaksin and Pojaman were found guilty, the parcel would be confiscated and returned to the state, he said.

Meanwhile, Sonthi said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont would not be sacked because he was honest and had performed to the best of his ability.

"The PM and his Cabinet are making sacrifices. The country has a lot of problems that cannot be solved quickly because we have to follow legal procedures. We want someone who is righteous, honest and conforms to the law," he said. The Army chief was responding to calls to remove Surayud for his alleged slowness in delivering concrete achievements.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan,

Bancha Khaengkhan

The Nation