This is too cute
This story was printed from TODAYonline‘I didn’t know much about Shin Corp sale’
I signed documents prepared by mum’s secretary: Thaksin’s son tells panel
Thursday • January 11, 2007
BANGKOK — The son of Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday insisted the controversial sale of his family’s Shin Corp telecommunications empire was done lawfully. However, Mr Panthongtae Shinawatra also told a government panel he did not know much about the sale of the shares, and that he only signed sale documents prepared by his mother’s personal secretary.
Mr Panthongtae, 27, was speaking to reporters after testifying before the government’s Assets Examination Committee, which is probing allegations that millions of dollars in taxes were not paid from last year’s sale of the firm to Singapore’s Temasek Holdings. Shares in the company were held by Mr Panthongtae and one of his sisters, Ms Pintongta Shinawatra.
However, in his testimony before the committee yesterday, Mr Panthongtae said he did not know much about the sale of the Shin Corp shares, according to The Nation.
Mr Panthongtae’s comments came as the military-backed junta that overthrew his father in September tightened the screws on the deposed Premier by revoking his diplomatic passport and banning broadcasters from reporting on him.
“They asked many questions but the company (in selling the shares) has done everything in accordance with the laws,” Mr Panthongtae was quoted as saying by AP, after his session with the committee.
The committee ruled last month that he and his sister owed 5.8 billion baht ($247.83 million) in back taxes from the sale of Shin Corp in January last year.
Mr Wiroj Laohapan, a subcommittee member, said Mr Panthongtae told the panel he only signed sale documents prepared by his mother’s personal secretary Kanjanapa Honghern, reported The Nation.
“No, I don’t know,” was Mr Panthongtae’s answer to most of the questions posed by the committee regarding the Shin Corp sale, said Mr Wiroj.
The secretary and Mr Panthongtae’s sister are due to be questioned tomorrow, the reports said. Based on their testimony, which is taken in closed sessions, the committee will decide whether to issue indictments and forward the case to the courts.
Meanwhile, the Thai government yesterday said it had revoked the diplomatic passport of Mr Thaksin and his wife because of heightened security concerns in the wake of deadly bombings in Bangkok.
“Thaksin and his wife can still apply for a normal passport wherever they are,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.
The ministry also ordered Thai embassies and consulates abroad to stop welcoming Mr Thaksin, he said. The government has accused factions loyal to Mr Thaksin of masterminding eight bomb attacks on New Year’s Eve. The junta also threatened to shut down local broadcasters who report statements from Mr Thaksin made through his lawyer here. — AGENCIES
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