Extraditing Thaksin 'not easy'

A senior public prosecutor points to possible difficulties in seeking Thaksin's extradition

Atthapol Yaisawang, inspector to the Office of Attorney-General, said the charge of concealment of shareholder structure in SC Asset, which the Department of Special Investigation has pressed against Thaksin, perhaps cannot be used to seek extradition.

He said extradition could be sought only if the charge was for an offence that is a punishable offence in both countries. "If this charge is an offence in English law we can seek extradition," he said. Atthapol said public prosecutors have sought cooperation from concerned agencies and Interpol to help trace the whereabouts of Thaksin and his wife Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra since June 21, when the prosecutor indicted the two for graft and criminal charges in connection with the Ratchadaphisek land-purchase case.

The Assets Examination Committee, the Foreign Ministry and the Royal Thai Police are trying to find their whereabouts and will report to the prosecutors by Wednesday as they need to report to the judges on July 9.

If they cannot find their whereabouts, the prosecutors will have to ask the court to give them more time.

Initial investigation found that Thaksin lives in London and Pojaman is being treated in a Singapore hospital, but they need proof to show that both of them are in those places.

Nine judges earlier ordered prosecutors to find the whereabouts of both, if they could not bring them to court, before judges could decide whether to accept the suit.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha ruled out that finding the whereabouts of Thaksin and Pojaman would be the deciding factor in whether the court would accept the suit. He said the court needed to know the registered addresses of both in Thailand.

He expressed confidence that the court would accept the Ratchadaphisek land-purchase case.

Kesinee Tangkhiew

The Nation