Prosecutor confirms Thaksin will receive fair treatment

12/02/2010
Bangkok Post

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer has testified in court more often than the prosecution in his assets seizure case, which should ensure his client receives fair treatment, deputy attorney-general Atthapol Yaisawang says.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions allowed Thaksin's lawyer to testify at 24 hearings while the prosecutors addressed only nine of the hearings looking into the confiscation of 76 billion baht in assets from the Shinawatra family, he said.

Mr Atthapol yesterday joined a discussion on the justice system and criminal cases involving politicians at Thammasat University.

He said the court had given ample and equal opportunities to all parties to present their side. Thaksin's lawyers were also allowed to cross-examine witnesses first.

Everyone must respect the outcome, no matter what the court rules, he said.

Mr Atthapol said the law did not attempt to prevent the rich from entering politics. Rich politicians who were not corrupt could provide the country with considerable benefits.

However, rich people who abused their authority would have to face the consequences, he said.

Sak Korsaengruang, a former member of the now-defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) which initiated the assets seizure case, said the case was unprecedented in terms of the amount of assets at stake.

Meanwhile, Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra asked the Supreme Court yesterday to ban comments by former members of the ASC on their family's assets case.

The two eldest of Thaksin's three children said they were worried the comments could confuse the public.

The two sought the ban from the Supreme Court following the publication of comments by Udom Fuangfung and Kaewsun Atibhodhi.

Mr Panthongtae and Ms Pinthongta referred to an article by Mr Udom published in Manager daily on Jan 16, and an interview with Mr Kaewsun published in Matichon newspaper two days later.

They said the two former ASC members had implied that the state should confiscate all 76 billion baht in assets at the centre of the case.

The two said Mr Udom and Mr Kaewsun expressed views which were distorted and, in some cases, untrue.

They said this could mislead members of the public into believing their father had done wrong and deserved to lose the entire 76 billion baht now frozen by the state.

The pair want the Supreme Court to issue an order barring former ASC members from airing "misleading" information about the case.

The ASC and the prosecution accused Thaksin of abusing his authority as prime minister to accumulate wealth for himself and his family.

They estimated the unusual wealth at 76.6 billion baht and asked the court to confiscate it.

The sum includes about 40 billion baht which Mr Panthongtae and Ms Pinthongta claim they received legally through the sale of their Shin Corp shares in 2006.

The Supreme Court will rule on the case on Feb 26.