The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) has given its sub-panels the power to launch asset investigations into possible conflicts of interest in regard to deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra - and to seek a court order to seize assets if he was found to be unusually rich.

AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem has endorsed the order to give subcommittees the authority to investigate all policies, projects and concessions by the Thaksin government, AEC secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi said yesterday.

"Since the AEC has expanded the scope and power for the subcommittees, we are given more weapons to use," he said.

The matter was discussed at the AEC meeting on Monday, according to the committee's secretary.

In the order, the AEC subcommittees are authorised to investigate all state measures that may have benefited Shin Corp, the telecom firm owned by the ex-PM's family. This would include a loan by the government's Export Import Bank to the Burmese government, which in turn was used to pay for an agreement with Shin Satellite.

Shin Corp is alleged to have benefited from various policies during Thaksin's administrations.

The order resulted from a proposal by Klanarong Chantik, chairman of the subcommittee probing the excise tax case.

Kaewsan said that the subcommittees would be able to investigate all government projects that may favour Shin Corp or Thaksin and his family such as the move to reduce concession fees, to give Board of Investment privileges, or matters in the iTV legal controversy.

The subcommittee can look into criminal offences that may have been committed by Thaksin and any damage incurred by such acts.

If Thaksin was found to hold Shin Corp shares, he would be subject to legal action for violating Article 100 of National Counter Corruption Act for offences involving conflicts of interest, plus Article 157 of the Criminal Law for malfeasance and dereliction of duty.

The subcommittee can also seek to impound Thaksin's assets, if he and his family were found in anyway to be unusually rich.

"If Thaksin or his family wrongfully earned dividends and capital gains from Shin Corp shares through policy corruption, they will be regarded as being unusually rich and we can lodge the complaint with the court to confiscate their assets," he said.