ASC: Thaksinmay lose his red passport

ASC: Thaksinmay lose his red passport.

Grounds exist to axe diplomatic status

POST REPORTERS

The Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) indicated yesterday that there are grounds for the Foreign Ministry to revoke the diplomatic passport issued to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

ASC investigator Jaruvan Maintaka said the committee had found evidence to take action against the former prime minister over the procurement of 26 CTX bomb scanning and baggage handling systems for Suvarnabhumi airport, and a land deal on Ratchadaphisek road.

The panel would inform the Foreign Ministry of its probe results as soon as possible but it is up to the ministry to decide whether to revoke ''the red-covered passport'' held by Mr Thaksin, said Khunying Jaruvan, who also is the auditor-general.

The ASC's position came after the ministry sent a letter dated Dec 29 and signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sawanit Kongsiri to the committee, seeking an update on the panel's investigations.

''The letter is simply [a form of] internal coordination to get direct information from the ASC for further consideration if there is any justification for revoking the passport [of Mr Thaksin],'' ministry spokesman Kitti Wasinondh said.

The ASC yesterday also agreed to set up a team to look into the procurement of pipes used in the laying of power cables at Suvarnabhumi airport in 2003.

ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said 14 officials involved in the case included the then transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit and then transport permanent secretary Srisook Chandrangsu.

They could face criminal charges if found guilty of favouring any firm in particular to win the bid for the procurement.

The board of Airports of Thailand Plc, led by chairman Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, yesterday continued its probe into several projects at the airport.

The board called in executives of the King Power Group responsible for commercial areas at the airport, Loxley for the airport's security system, and the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel following criticism over their winning bids.

AoT president Chotisak Asapaviriya said the three firms were willing to amend their long-term contracts if asked by AoT.

Meanwhile, Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of Mr Thaksin, and her step-brother Bannapot Damapong, both of whom are accused by the ASC of tax evasion in the 1997 transfer of Shin Corp shares, have decided to skip a meeting with the panel's inquiry team scheduled for today.

Noppadol Pattama, the Shinawatra family's lawyer, said yesterday that Khunying Potjaman and Mr Bannapot would not appear before an ASC sub-panel today in order to acknowledge the accusations and defend themselves because they had to attend to some affairs overseas.

However, they would defend themselves in writing instead without giving specific details about the timeframe, Mr Noppadol added.

The siblings and their four close aides are accused of violating the Revenue Code by colluding to lie to authorities about the transfer of 4.5 million Shin shares worth 738 million baht in order to avoid tax liability in 1997.

The four aides are the family's domestic helper Duangta Vongpakdi, Khunying Potjaman's secretary Kanchanapha Honghern, broker for the deal Wanchai Honghern and Khunying Potjaman's close aide Pranee Wetchapruekpitak.

Bangkok Post
Thursday January 04, 2007