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Jaruvan will ask Asset Examination Committee chairman Nam Yimyaem endorsed the ninth freeze order on Thaksin's assets worth over Bt500 million within this week.

Lawyers of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday insisted the AEC intentionally overturned a Constitution Court ruling in asset concealment case.

Prakiat Nasimma, spokesman of Thaksin's lawyer team said the AEC cannot say that its investigation has nothing to do with the court ruling because the court ruled that Thaksin did not own shares while holding office but the AEC froze Shinawatra's assets on the ground that Thaksin was the acutal share owners. "What the AEC is doing overturned the Constitution Court ruling,'' he said.

Prakiat said the AEC did not have the right to issue a regulation to give rewards on tipoffs and he wondered if the agency issued such regulations with the motive to get 25 per cent rewards on the tipoffs.

He demanded that the AEC reveal the number of people and identity of those who provide tipoffs after the court case closes.

Prakiat also criticised as weak the regulation number 6 issued by the AEC as it stipulated that the AEC chairman can endorse or approve, the particular person can take rewards from providing the tipoffs.

Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, said yesterday that the expremier is strapped for cash because the AEC froze the assets. The lawyers will file suit with the court in a few days to revoke the freeze order.

Meanwhile Banjerd Singkaneti chairman of the AEC panel probing the rubber sapling purchase said 48 people had defended themselves against the corruption charges involving the rubber sapling purchase, 42 have yet to turn themselves in. Thaksin had his lawyer defended the charge on Monday.

Banjerd said his panel will wrap up the investigations on ExportImport Bank's loan extension to Burma, and telecommunication excise tax case within September.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation