Thaksin's Panalty, What come around what goes around Options

[AEROFORCE1]

ASC freezes Thaksin's assets

B52bn held in family's and relatives' accounts

POST REPORTERS


Secretary to the Assets Scrutiny Committee Kaewsan Atipho (far right) explains the panel's decision to freeze the assets of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family during a press conference that was also attended by ASC chairman Nam Yimyaem (centre) and ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengrueng.

The Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) yesterday ordered the freezing of more than 52 billion baht held in bank accounts belonging to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his wife, two grown-up children and two other relatives.

The order, effective today, was based on alleged acts of dishonesty and abuse of power to accumulate unusual wealth.

Any bank which allows transactions in the frozen accounts would face legal action, said Kaewsan Atipho, the ASC secretary.

The ASC has frozen all the bank accounts of Mr Thaksin and his wife. In addition, it froze 21 accounts with deposits related to the sale of Shin Corp shares to Temasek Holdings.

These accounts belong to Mr Thaksin's two grown-up children, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, Mr Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra and Khunying Potjaman's stepbrother Bannapot Damapong, Mr Kaewsan told a press conference.

The ASC will unfreeze those assets if Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman can verify within 60 days that they earned those assets through legal means.

Mr Kaewsan said the ASC is authorised to order the freeze by announcement No. 30 of the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR), the Sept 19 coup makers _ now the Council for National Security.

CDR announcement No.30 authorises the ASC to freeze assets of state officials suspected of malfeasance or corruption and to unfreeze them if the suspected state officials can prove all the assets were not obtained by such means within the timeframe set by the ASC.

Mr Kaewsan said the Shinawatra and Damapong families netted 73 billion baht when they sold Shin Corp shares to Singapore-based Temasek Holdings. But the ASC found the money in the frozen bank accounts came to only 52 billion baht as of June 4. The panel would trace the other 20 billion baht that has disappeared from the accounts.

The ASC has no access to the Shinawatra family's bank accounts at UBS Bank in Singapore, he added.

Mr Thaksin and the five others must submit to the ASC documents on their Shin share transactions and UBS Bank accounts within 60 days as well, he said.

''This [the assets freeze] is a measure to retain the assets involved. It is not a punishment. It is not the final judgement,'' said Mr Kaewsan.

''The ASC insists we are not prejudiced and that we were not given an order [to freeze the assets]. We do so as we are authorised by the CDR's announcement No. 30 to ensure justice,'' said ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengrueng.

''I am not worried. If they want to come, I cannot stop them,'' ASC chairman Nam Yimyaem said, when asked about the possibility of a pro-Thaksin rally at the ASC's headquarters.

Mr Kaewsan said the ASC ordered the freeze after it found enough evidence to allege Mr Thaksin was involved in five malfeasance cases and six of abuse of power to obtain unusual wealth.

Of the five malfeasance cases, the ASC had already forwarded the 772-million-baht land deal to the public prosecutor and the prosecutor had made indictments. Another four cases are under ASC investigation, Mr Kaewsan said.

Noppadon Pattama, Mr Thaksin's close aide, said yesterday his boss was bewildered by the ASC's orders and would seek justice through the courts of law.

''I will set up a legal team to file criminal and civil lawsuits against the ASC,'' Mr Noppadon said.

Mr Thaksin's aide said that the deposed leader saw the move as unjust and nothing but political intimidation.

Mr Thaksin never attempted to bring the assets out of the country and he was presumed innocent, said Mr Noppadon.

He said the ASC's alleged evidence of wrongdoings by Mr Thaksin would be thrown out by the courts.

''The ASC seeks to discredit Mr Thaksin and its course of action does not follow the rule of law. We will work to get every member of the ASC to court,'' he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/12Jun2007_news01.php

Its just start ,I will wait how much he has to return to the country

[tat]

Thanks for the share... it is hurtful to hear such news. I hear stories from African friends who state that the leaders of their countries are selfish beings who concern themselves first before the citizens of its country.

It hurts me to see that Thaksin has followed their footsteps. I'm sure Thaksin thought he could do both, and take from the cookie jar. Hell, that's why people are upset with Bush. And on top of this, its been said with no proof or evidence that it is Thaksin's people who caused those bombings over the country and with the demonstration. What is there to gain?

As for the censorship,is it that necessary? Is the purpose of censorship for the protection of Thais from Thaksin's powerful proganada media resources and form of communication that needs to be blocked? Is it that important enough for the heavy weight/burden the Thai citizens must bear to deal with such a powerful adversary within it's own borders?

I HATE POLITICS. You can't please anyone.

It breaks my heart that he and his supporters cause a rift among the people when the King is not at his best right now.

AnAttA knew he was evil from the start, but there were those of us who had faith that he would do some good, it is sad that greed took the best of him. Its rare to find angels / needle in the haystack, I guess Thaksin was not one of them.

And this issue with purchasing a footbul/soccer team? It is so sad to think he hopes to win the hearts of the people by releasing in the media his interest to purchase a football/futbal/soccer team. How does that erase what he has done?

I would be so mad and upset if Thai's cannot see beyond that. He had his good points, but overall, he needs to let everything go.

Of course to ask a powerful man to accept defeat is near impossible. I'm sure Thaksin would rather die.

Wouldnt be nice if he stated that? :^P

He had his time, he needs to stop hiding and take the consequences of his action. He gave up his self-interest when he decided to take the role of Prime Minister. His personal gain on the side while a part of human nature is unacceptable, he went over the line, and should have known that abuse of power is wrong. He's been warned soo many times, and he didn't listen.

saow jing jing krup.

Pray that Thailand can overcome these obstacles happening all around. Pray that the greed and corruption of those above are replaced by more altruistic people.

Pray that the focus of the economy and other areas of concerns are addressed as well.

And I know that won't happen, but hey... I'm an idealist! Sometimes, you have to be song saan these politicians.

And when will Thailand have the ability to bring the great players into the eyes of the world to play in the world cup? Freakin corrupt peeps!

Sorry for venting...

[bonkdaddy]

he gave in to the dark side .. simple as that .. heck looking at how much he profited id be tempted too (i'm lying i would have done the same).

what i want to know is where are all those who supported him? i mean on the internet and stuff .. i haven't read anyones posts protecting/defending him lately?

[Arroi]

after 9 months and all they can come up with is just 'allegations and suspicions'. until now there is still no evidence against thaksin. better luck next time. now we just wait n see when is Thaksin coming back to thailand to face the charges. its not gonna end pretty.

This post has been edited by Arroi: Jun 12 2007, 10:40 AM

[AEROFORCE1]

@ Bonk You call for the ghost the ghost come!!!

@arroi If Thaksin not in the hot seat like this you wouldnt come here? Any way welcome back

This post has been edited by AEROFORCE1: Jun 12 2007, 11:23 AM

[AEROFORCE1]

@tat

Thaksin case is almost close ,he will deserve on what he done soon. We cant permanently prevent or stop the corruption ,we still cant change the Thai social which full of the selfish political guys around. So we still lost.

However ,from this Thaksin case ,the political guys might think twice before they corrupt. If they corrupt ,they would been punished by law.

[Arroi]

@tat

Thaksin case is almost close ,he will deserve on what he done soon. We cant permanently prevent or stop the corruption ,we still cant change the Thai social which full of the selfish political guys around. So we still lost.

However ,from this Thaksin case ,the political guys might think twice before they corrupt. If they corrupt ,they would been punished by law.

sadly, it will not happen, at least not in our lifetime na krub. please remember that every time the military stage a coup, their reason is all too familiar, to weed out corruption. We have had 18 coups, and corruption is still as deeply engraved inside the system as ever. If thaksin was found to be corrupt by a FAIR and JUST court backed by proofs then punish him. but what about
SPK 4-01, Hopewell way etc..., there were solid evidence of the corruption but the culprits were never punished. Why do you think PM surayut who himself keeps mentioning dhamma and self sufficient economy has at least 90 millions, resorts, golf courses and a house built on protected forest at Khao Yai Tieng? did CNS care? i didnt think so. You want all politicians to declare their own wealth, im more interested in how much each GENERAL have in their accounts. How much does Sonthi have, how much does PREM have? I remember a number of years back when this general died, he was actually worth 4 Billion baht. i didnt know being in the military could be that rich. There are two things that are off limit in thailand, the royal family and the military. as long as this still has not changed, we will always remain a third world country.

the coup is not about wiping off corruption, its all about power and wealth of the military.

This post has been edited by Arroi: Jun 14 2007, 06:23 AM

[AEROFORCE1]

^
So you still think Thaksin is clean?

[Arroi]

i believe politicians are corrupt so y everything is about thaksin when previous PMs were PROVEN to be corrupted as hell but noone do sth about that? it is not possible to have a clean government in thailand. so did u think military was clean? if they were, thailand wouldnt be known as a sex n drug haven.

[AEROFORCE1]

^
So that s mean you believe Thaksin is corupt as hell but you still love him that s good.

This post has been edited by AEROFORCE1: Jun 15 2007, 09:35 PM

[Arroi]

^
So that s mean you believe Thaksin is corupt as hell but you still love him that s good.

thaksin is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law krub. anyway he (or TRT for that matter) was corrupt or not, i dont care. all i care is TRT had implimented policies that benefited the country and its economy and people, nobody can deny that.

[AEROFORCE1]

thaksin is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law krub. anyway he (or TRT for that matter) was corrupt or not, i dont care. all i care is TRT had implimented policies that benefited the country and its economy and people, nobody can deny that.

Khopkhun krap no body forget about what he done for sure and he will deserve it krap.

[tat]

thaksin is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law krub. anyway he (or TRT for that matter) was corrupt or not, i dont care. all i care is TRT had implimented policies that benefited the country and its economy and people, nobody can deny that.

Wow... just read this editorial the other day about people who think this way and Arroi posts this. 555 Have a read from Nation newspaper.

EDITORIAL
Thaksin mindset plagues country

The public's acceptance of official corruption reflects the negative culture born under the previous government

Despite his departure from the Kingdom several months ago, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has left behind a political legacy that still haunts the public. Thaksin's legacy is alarming and its effects were shown clearly in a recent opinion survey that showed about 70 per cent of Bangkok residents thought a corrupt government was acceptable as long as it could bring about public well-being.

This kind of attitude is something new in Thai society. In the past, people everywhere had an unshakeable faith in honesty and ethical values and they hated corrupt politicians most of all. Five years of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister seems to have had a heavy impact on the moral values of people. The manner in which he governed the Kingdom, as a chief executive officer lording over his company, ignored any form of correctness and ethical values and seems to have sowed a new worrisome mentality, which has spread widely.


If people think they can accept a corrupt government only because they receive some of the benefits of that government's populist policies, this suggests they no longer have faith in honesty and ethics. Such a thought is tantamount to giving the green light to corrupt politicians to act against the country's interests even more openly. This is the evil legacy the Thaksin regime has left behind.


The crumbs that Thaksin fed the masses in the form of benefits doled out via his populist projects are the main reason why many people still blindly worship him even after his fall from grace. These people firmly believe that only a billionaire like Thaksin can be a good and dependable leader.


The issue of corruption becomes immaterial to people with this kind of thinking.


The Thaksin regime's actions set numerous bad examples for the general public. By breaching the rules and regulations set for proper governance during its administration, the regime made some people believe that by doing the same they were not in the wrong.


This attitude might explain why the opinion survey mentioned above also showed that 82 per cent of respondents said they were ready to break rules and regulations if necessary. Since they saw those in power flouting rules, it is understandable some of them might have begun to think that the common people could also do the same.


The instances of tax evasion allegedly committed by Thaksin and his family have certainly left many people wondering why they have to bother about paying taxes.


These alarming survey results clearly demonstrate how the legacy of the Thaksin regime has influenced the way the public thinks to a far more severe degree than most of us had previously thought. The politicians who served the regime seem to have quite successful in instilling this attitude among citizens in order to make it easier for their government to rule.


The legacy of the Thaksin government and its detrimental effect on the mindset of the people is made painfully clear by respondents saying corruption in the government and elsewhere is acceptable.


This line of thinking is dangerous and it could eventually lead to a social crisis. Supporting a corrupt government is like subjecting oneself to the Mafia's rule for the sake of whatever trifle they might give away, while they are enjoying their plundering of the country. This is a bad political relationship that will never last long because of its evil nature. Corruption will, without a doubt, lead to the fall of the country. The observance of morality and ethics in the government is what can save it.


Thai people must ask themselves now whether they will allow this kind of dangerous mentality concerning corruption to prevail and whether they will accept political evil in exchange for the benefits handed out to them by corrupt politicians. Are we happy to see our children grow up with the attitude that corrupt politicians are all right as long as they can please the people?

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/16...on_30037035.php

[Arroi]

5555 have a read from the NATION newspaper, u said!! hahahaahah whats next, manager?? mate! why dont you go and read articles from foreign, less biased media like Times or financial review on how thailand's economy and the situation in the south have deteriorated since the coup. I could have posted analyses or articles from pro thaksin site about thaksin but whats the point. u hate thaksin, i like thaksin. nth is gonna change that.

[AEROFORCE1]

AEC make a move too slow ,if I am Thaksin Shinnawatra ,I would move my money to the Offshore bank accounts for long already. And now AEC is already know that it would be very difficult to investigate his offshore bank account.


More news
Search continues for Thaksin's moving billions
BANGKOK June 13 (TNA) – Another batch of eight billion baht in wealth accumulated by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family was believed to have been withdrawn from commercial banks in Thailand in early June and the money is believed to remain in the country, Bank of Thailand governor Tarisa Watanagase said Wednesday.

The eight billion baht the former prime minister is believed to have recently withdrawn is in addition to some Bt21 billion withdrawn earlier from domestic commercial banks, following last year's sale of his family's Shin Corp stock to Singapore's Temasek Holdings for Bt73 billion.

Former Bank of Thailand governor M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula said he believed all the withdrawn Shinawatra family money remained inside Thailand.

"Nobody in his right mind would (try to) launder such a huge sum of cash by smuggling it out, then bring it back into the country and sustain the high costs of daily foreign exchange rates," he ventured.

Neither would Mr. Thaksin withdraw Bt20 billion of the total Bt73 billion deposits from domestic banks only to circumvent the planned freeze of his assets in the face of the misconduct charges lodged by the Assets Examination Committee, M.R. Pridiyathorn said.

For that reason, the deposed prime minister would rather have had all the deposits withdrawn and transferred overseas in one single batch, the former central bank chief commented.

According to Bank of Thailand rules, one person may remit a maximum of US$50 million from the country under permission from the central bank at one time.

However, Mrs. Tarisa added, the central bank and the AEC will urgently look into the matter and ask Thailand's commercial banks and the Anti-Money Laundering Office to help trace any transactions of the Shinawatra family's money.

Last year, the deposed prime minister withdrew Bt400 million from a domestic bank to transfer to England to buy a house, plus an undisclosed sum of money to buy an apartment house for one of his daughters there. Mr. Thaksin was also found to have deposited an undisclosed sum of money at a UOB bank in Singapore prior to the sale of the Shin Corp stocks. (TNA)-E008

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=29916

This post has been edited by AEROFORCE1: Jun 16 2007, 11:21 AM

[nobodyknown]

Thanks, God that help Taksin to hell.

many thanks

[yokie]

thaksin is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law krub. anyway he (or TRT for that matter) was corrupt or not, i dont care. all i care is TRT had implimented policies that benefited the country and its economy and people, nobody can deny that.

Hitler had done a lot of good thing to german public too but he also slaughtered a lot of jews. It's a little selfish of you to say you don't care what the man did to other people as long as something he did benefit some people more, don't you think???

[Aardvark]

fu-k Thaksin, fu-k Thai politition...

[Nhoona]

Mafia JUNTA GET OUT!!

royal family =their tool to coup

next king??

[yokie]

Mafia JUNTA GET OUT!!

royal family =their tool to coup

next king??

you seriously think the king of Thailand serves under the coup. คิดได้ไงเนี่ย คนไทยป่าวคับ