Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra's legal adviser yesterday reported the whereabouts of more than Bt23 billion reported as "missing" from the bank accounts of the ex-PM and his family members before Mondays' asset-freeze order by the Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

Noppadon Pattama, who also acts as a de facto spokesman for Thaksin, said the total amount of money withdrawn from the bank accounts in question totalled Bt23.4 billion and not Bt28 billion as had been claimed by the special anti-graft panel.

He said the AEC might have made incorrect calculations in reaching their figure.

The lawyer said that of the total amount, Thaksin's children, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, used Bt6 billion to buy stock in various companies. Thaksin's brother-in-law, Bhanapot Damapong, used another Bt10.4 billion to buy stock.

Most of the companies involved are in the properties sector.

The remaining Bt7 billion was deposited in five bank accounts held separately by Panthongtae and Pinthongta, Noppadon told a press conference at the Central Sofitel Hotel yesterday evening.

He said the AEC was well aware of the five bank accounts in question, because the panel had already been informed of their existence.

Noppadon said the Bt7 billion in the accounts would be used to purchase controlling shares in British football club Manchester City, as well as properties.

He said there "have been good signs" in the ongoing negotiations for the football club's acquisition and that he expected the outcome by next Sunday.

"If the money freeze leads to failure in acquiring the [controlling stakes], the AEC must be held responsible," Noppadon said.

He also said he and Thaksin's legal team would next Monday file a petition protesting the AEC's asset-freeze order.

At Noppadon's earlier press briefing in the day, he said Thaksin would not return to the country this month, because the Council for National Security (CNS) could not guarantee his safety.

"We do not fear death, but we do not want to have an untimely death. His safety is important," Noppadon said.

However, Noppadon denied that Thaksin wanted to ask the UN High Commission for Refugees to grant him political asylum.

"Thaksin has never had this idea. Even when the coup was staged and he went to the United Kingdom, English officials asked if he wanted to seek political asylum," Noppadon said.

Meanwhile, Thaksin will address an anti-junta rally at 9pm tonight through a video-conferencing system over the Internet and will "tell all about how he and his family have been persecuted", said Jakrapob Penkair, who served as government spokesman when Thaksin was in power.

Noppadon said Thaksin would next week file civil and criminal suits against the AEC for freezing Bt50 billion worth of his assets and claimed the panel had made false accusations for alleging Thaksin still held Shin Corp shares.

Noppadon said that before assuming the PM's post in 2001, Thaksin submitted an assets declaration to the National Counter Corruption Commission reporting he held Shin shares worth Bt31 billion, but he had transferred all of them to his children. "The freezing of assets is unjust and unethical," he said.

CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin yesterday said if Thaksin wanted to return, he would have to notify the CNS so it could provide him with security. The junta chief had earlier said Thaksin's life could be in danger if he returned.

Respected social critic Prawase Wasi yesterday warned the country would face political chaos if the government allowed Thaksin to return.

"If Thaksin returns, there will be a violent clash. Soldiers will not let Thaksin live if they believe he is the cause of the chaos, and his presence is a threat to the country's institutions. They will kill him," Prawase said.

He also said if Thaksin died, the country could be in for endless trouble and protests, because the ousted PM had both people who loved him and people who hated him.

Noppadon also yesterday criticised the publicity blitz against Thaksin that alleges he withdrew nearly Bt30 billion from bank accounts before graft-busters froze his assets.

"This publicity is aimed at defaming Thaksin. He did not transfer the money out of the country. He put the Bt8 billion into several investments that will reveal the money is still in the country," he said.

Noppadon said authorities could also trace the transactions of the Bt20 billion they claim went missing from Thaksin's accounts.

He insisted Thaksin did not buy a luxurious town house in Hong Kong worth Bt945 million, as reported.

The AEC has revealed that two amounts - Bt20 billion and Bt8 billion - were withdrawn from his bank accounts one week before the order to freeze the accounts was issued on Monday.

A report from the Bank of Thailand (BOT) said that between June 4 and 11, more than Bt8 billion was withdrawn from six of the 21 accounts, leaving a combined balance of around Bt43 billion.

The account from which most of the money was withdrawn - Bt5.6 billion - is in the name of Thaksin's brother-in-law, Bhanapot.

The AEC found on June 4 that about Bt20 billion had been withdrawn from the 21 accounts holding the Bt73.3 billion from the Shin sale, leaving Bt53 billion.