Focus On Thaksin's Associates

[march]

Suspected Red-shirt Moneybags Counter Charges

UPDATE : 7 July 2010

Businesspeople and close aides of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra deny their suspected financial support to the red-shirt group while testifying with investigators today.

Owner of Bai Yok Tower, Pantlert Baiyok today met investigators at the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, to answer the summons to be questioned for his suspected financing of the red-shirt protests and other related activities.

Panlert, however, presented no evidence or gave any testimony, saying his meeting was only to ask for details about how to answer investigators' doubt over his financial transactions.

Pheu Thai MP for Nonthaburi, Dejudom Rattananasathien, was also among those questioned today.

Udomdej said there was 800,000 in his bank account, which was frozen. He argued it is not unusual for an MP to have this much money.

Investigators ordered him to present related documents during his next testimony scheduled for July 30.

Also reporting for the interrogation were leader of the red-shirt network in Ayutthaya, Mayuree Sewatasai, and chief executive officer of G-Net company, Chat Chavanasathien.

Mayuree has produced no documentation to the investigators, but claimed she has 4 million baht in her sole bank account and the amount is from her real estate business and sales of satellite dishes.

She declined to answer reporters' question on her financial support for the red-shirt protests, but admitted she gave 100,000 baht to the group to buy food during its activities and insisted she had the right to do so.

Meanwhile, attorney representing Mitsushita company's, Winyatti Chatmontri, showed bank accounts which he admitted were linked to the red-shirt group, but denied the money was used to fund their unruly protests.

He said the amounts appearing in those bank accounts were from the company's sales of its products at the rally sites.

Wiyadee Sutawong and Pasin Horklang, close friends of Pojaman Na Pompeth, former wife of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, today also met investigators at the Department of Special Investigation to be questioned for suspected financing of the recent red-shirt protests

DSI Director General Tharit Pengdit said his department will divide the people who have given testimonies into three groups.

First is the white group for those who give clear explanations about their financial transactions.

Second is the black group for those who have been found involved in the red-shirt activities. Those in this group will be charged with supporting terrorist acts.

Third is the gray group for people who have suspicious behavior and are suspected of supporting the red-shirt moves.

Investigators will be directed to expedite their inquiries to find out any of those on the list are really linked to the red-shirt group.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1031868

[march]

More Questioned over Red-shirt Funding

UPDATE : 8 July 2010

More businesspeople and politicians keep reporting to investigators over their alleged financial support for the unruly red-shirt protests, but most have not presented documents to attest their innocence.

Owner of Bonanza Resort in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Paiwong Techanarong, former deputy leader of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, Prayudh Mahakijsiri, and Pheu Thai MP Asanee Cherdchai met investigators at the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, to answer questions about their suspected funding of the red-shirt unlawful protests.

However, all of them did not submit any documents to the investigators.

Owner of the Peninsula Travel Service, Sukanya Prachuabmoh, sent a lawyer to give testimony on her behalf. No documents for her financial transactions were presented at the testimony as well.

The lawyer stated today's meeting was merely aimed to ask the investigators for details about her charges. The investigators required Sukanya to provide necessary documents by August 2.

Editor of a red-shirt newspaper Thai Red News, Supitcha Pattanapan, one of the eight scheduled to testify today, has not appeared at the DSI office yet.

The DSI will dispatch its staff to investigate three detained red-shirt core leaders, Weng Tojirakarn, Veera Musikapong and Kwanchai Sarakhum, at the Bangkok Remand Prison.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1031918

[march]

Red-shirt Leaders Skip Funding Probe

UPDATE : 9 July 2010

Individuals blacklisted for suspected red-shirt funding continued clarifying their finances to investigators today, while some protest leaders that are still on the run sent their attorneys instead.

Red-shirt supporter Somyos Prueksakasemsuk submitted to questioning by the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, this morning on order from the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation, or CRES. He is suspected of financing the anti-government protests.

Somyos submitted four bank books to investigators with a combined balance of less than 100,000 baht.

The red-shirt sympathizer firmly denied funding the group with his personal finances but admitted to receiving donations on their behalf.

He stated that the prime minister must be ready to take responsibility if his blacklisting turns out to be unfounded.

Red-shirt core-leader Adisorn Piangkate, currently on the run from police, entrusted his attorney to appear on his behalf.

Adisorn's lawyer denied that his client financially backed the red-shirt movement, adding that he would submit to arrest once the state of emergency is lifted.

Fellow protest leader Suporn Attawong also sent his attorney instead of risking arrest.

Suporn's attorney presented a signed request by his client to delay his reporting to investigators until after the Emergency Decree is discontinued.

Red-shirt guard head Aree Krainara was also represented by an attorney, who had little information for investigators. They scheduled Aree to present more evidence on July 22.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1031976

[march]

DSI: Thaksin the Only One Not to Clarify Financier Allegations

UPDATE : 12 July 2010

Chief of the Department of Special Investigations Tharit Pengdit revealed that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was the only one, out of nearly 80 individuals, who did not clarify allegations against him for financing the red shirt riots.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1032015

[march]

quote from Bomb Attack thread:

Karom Poltaklang, lawyer representing the UDD, revealed today that he was preparing to submit a petition for the bail of Ms Varissareeya

He claimed that the detainee was suffering from severe allergy and he would help her by submitting the bail request

Seems this same UDD lawyer from the the UDD Lawyer Brigade sure keeps himself busy... but what the Reds really need is a good allergist.

Karom Ponthaklang, lawyer representing the UDD on Friday sought for a second bail attempt for the detained protest leaders after the court rejected the request on June 15.

Among the UDD leaders now being detained at Bangkok Remand Prison were Veera Musikapong, Weng Tojirakarn, Korkaew Pikulthong, and Natthawut Saikua.

Thida Tojirakarn, Dr Weng's wife, said her husband will not flee prosecution as he has must run his medical clinic. She said the protest leader's congenital disease and allergies will recur when he stays in a confined area.

This same lawyer is, indeed, REALLY busy.

His clients are the Red Leaders in custody,

the Red Bombers in custody (until his ditching of them is complete),

and he's also the attorney for the Red Financiers.

A busy, busy man

news excerpt from:

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1032048

Lawyer for the red-shirt group Karom Polthaklang today also provided information on the financial transactions of Thanakrit Cha-emnoi, a well-known red shirt element, to the Department of Special Investigation.

In defence of Thanakrit, Karom claimed he has about 1 million baht in his sole bank account. He explained that Thanakrit had made some money from his singing career and 600,000 baht was a loan from a friend for his new car.

However, Thanakrit was asked to testify again as investigators consider the evidence he has supplied as insufficient.

In the meantime, Methee Amornwuthikul, a movie star and red-shirt group's staunch supporter, also gave his financial information to the DSI today. He has been detained since April for protest-related charges.

Also reporting to the DSI today was Pakdee Thanapura, owner of the Thai Red News publisher and a representative of BBD Property company.

[ThaksinKharma]

Red shirts' financial backers soon to face charges

The Department of Special Investigation will soon formally charge people found to have provided financial support to the red shirts during the recent political unrest.

Meanwhile it will remove from the blacklist those for whom it could not establish clear links to the anti-government movement, the DSI chief said.

Tharit Pengdit, the DSI director-general, said yesterday that his agency would suggest to the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to remove individuals and businesses in the "white group" from the blacklist of those banned from financial transactions. Those in the "black group" would be charged with supporting acts of terrorism, he added.

He said DSI investigators would this week begin classifying the 83 on the blacklist into three groups --- white, grey and black.

Tharit said 73 on the blacklist summoned by the authorities had provided explanations to the investigators -- 37 of them in person and 36 others through their lawyers. The investigators would later question five others being detained in prison. The last five people have not contacted the authorities: Thaksin Shinawatra, Chinnawat Habunpad, Samroeng Prajamrua, Sangiam Samranrat, and Aree Krainara.

The investigators also requested a second round of questioning for 52 of those on the blacklist for further information, the DSI chief said. The 21 whose explanations satisfied the investigators were only asked to provide some additional documents.

The latter group includes Sutham Sangprathum, Sermsak Pongpanit, Somyos Phruksakasemsuk, Police General Salang Bunnag, Plodprasop Suraswadi, Prayuth Mahakitsiri, Assanee Cherdchai, and Methi Amornwuthikul.

Beginning today, (July 14) there will be a second round of questioning. Among those required to provide further explanations are Panlert Baiyoke, companies with connections to the Shinawatra family, Thaksin's former wife Pojaman na Pombejra, Thaksin's siblings and cousins, Sudarat Keyuraphan, Chaiya Sasomsap, and Somsak Kiatsuranond.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court yesterday granted a DSI request for the fourth round of detention of Pheu Thai MPs Jatuporn Prompan and Karun Hosakul for another 12 days while the DSI is investigating the terrorism charge against them.

The two opposition MPs have not been under detention because they have cited their immunity as parliamentarians. Other red-shirt leaders turning themselves in to police to face the same charge have been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/07/14/politics/Red-shirts-financial-backers-soon-to-face-charges-30133679.html

[ThaksinKharma]

DSI to Unfreeze Accounts of Alleged Red-Shirt Financiers Proven Innocent

The Department of Special Investigation has planned to ask the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations to unfreeze the assets of some individuals who have been cleared of the accusation of being red-shirt financiers.

Permanent-Director of the Department of Special Investigation or DSI, Tharit Pengdit, has announced that the department will submit a report on the financial investigation of the individuals and businesses suspected of financially supporting the red-shirt movement, to the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations or CRES.

Tharit claimed that the financial investigation of 21 individuals has been completed.

Tharit also said the department has categorized the suspected individuals and businesses into three groups, white, gray, and black groups.

The DSI will make a recommendation to the CRES to unfreeze the assets of those in the white group, and those in the gray group will be considered on case-by-case basis.

However, terrorism charges could be brought against those in the black group.

Tharit added that the second round of the financial investigation, of 53 individuals, is not yet complete.

He urged the people who have not yet reported to the DSI to do so as soon as possible, or they could risk being criminally charged.

TAN

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1032269

[ThaksinKharma]

Lawyer of Thaksin's Ex-wife Testifies with DSI

The attorney for the ex-wife of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra has presented to investigators her frozen bank accounts to show she could not have provided financial support for the recent red-shirt protests.

Khunying Pojaman Na Pomphet, former wife of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, sent her lawyer Somporn Pongsuwan to testify with the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, on her financial dealings, suspected to have been used to fund unlawful red-shirt protests.

Somporn presented eight of 24 bank accounts with a total amount of two billion baht deposited as requested by investigators at a previous interrogation.

The lawyer testified that the amounts which appeared in the bank accounts have been frozen as ordered by the Supreme Court's division for cases against political post holders.

Pheu Thai MP for Payao province Pairoj Tanbanjong and representatives from SC Assets Corporation also gave testimonies at the department.

DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit said the classification of individuals and businesses suspected to have financed the red-shirt group should be completed within the next couple of days.

The list will then be forwarded to the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation for further action.

TAN - July 20, 2010

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1032463

[philw]

Lawyer of Thaksin's Ex-wife Testifies with DSI

The attorney for the ex-wife of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra has presented to investigators her frozen bank accounts to show she could not have provided financial support for the recent red-shirt protests.

Khunying Pojaman Na Pomphet, former wife of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, sent her lawyer Somporn Pongsuwan to testify with the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, on her financial dealings, suspected to have been used to fund unlawful red-shirt protests.

Somporn presented eight of 24 bank accounts with a total amount of two billion baht deposited as requested by investigators at a previous interrogation.

The lawyer testified that the amounts which appeared in the bank accounts have been frozen as ordered by the Supreme Court's division for cases against political post holders.

Pheu Thai MP for Payao province Pairoj Tanbanjong and representatives from SC Assets Corporation also gave testimonies at the department.

DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit said the classification of individuals and businesses suspected to have financed the red-shirt group should be completed within the next couple of days.

The list will then be forwarded to the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation for further action.

TAN - July 20, 2010

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1032463

Why do you keep posting cut and paste stuff, without comment.

Is there a point that you are trying to make or are you just bored ??

Sincerely, what are you trying to say ??

I can't divine it.

ph

[animatic]

What about her OTHER 16 bank accounts?

[philw]

What about her OTHER 16 bank accounts?

So what?

How many bank accounts do you have ??

Between my wife, the business and I we have several.

So what ?

[ThaksinKharma]

Lawyer of Thaksin's Ex-wife Testifies with DSI

The attorney for the ex-wife of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra has presented to investigators her frozen bank accounts to show she could not have provided financial support for the recent red-shirt protests.

Khunying Pojaman Na Pomphet, former wife of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, sent her lawyer Somporn Pongsuwan to testify with the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, on her financial dealings, suspected to have been used to fund unlawful red-shirt protests.

Somporn presented eight of 24 bank accounts with a total amount of two billion baht deposited as requested by investigators at a previous interrogation.

The lawyer testified that the amounts which appeared in the bank accounts have been frozen as ordered by the Supreme Court's division for cases against political post holders.

Pheu Thai MP for Payao province Pairoj Tanbanjong and representatives from SC Assets Corporation also gave testimonies at the department.

DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit said the classification of individuals and businesses suspected to have financed the red-shirt group should be completed within the next couple of days.

The list will then be forwarded to the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation for further action.

TAN - July 20, 2010

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1032463

Why do you keep posting cut and paste stuff

In a forum that is called Thailand News Clippings, you're wondering why I post Thailand News Clippings?

If you can't suss it out, it provides the basis for discussion of news events in Thailand.

To that end, it is hoped to help people have a more informed opinion based on actual occurrences when discussing news events in Thailand, which is apparently lacking in some members.

Edited July 20, 2010 by ThaksinKharma

[ThaksinKharma]

DSI to file testimonies of 21 alleged UDD financiers to CRES soon

BANGKOK, 21 July 2010 (NNT) - The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is preparing to present testimonies of 21 alleged financiers for anti-government protests to the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) for consideration.

DSI Chief Tharit Pengdit disclosed today that the questioning process of 21 individuals and firms alleged of financing anti-government protests had been completed.

He said the DSI had assigned the Bureau of Financial and Banking Crime and the Bureau of Taxation Crime to process the data before forwarding it to him for re-examination.

Large sums of money have been allegedly transferred into and out of banking accounts, held by 83 persons and entities close to ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

The suspicious financial transactions have been speculated as a method for funding the recent anti-government rally of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255307210058

[animatic]

What about her OTHER 16 bank accounts?

So what?

How many bank accounts do you have ??

Between my wife, the business and I we have several.

So what ?

If she is suspected of financing the Red Shirt occupation and rioting to bring down the government,

ALL her accounts need to be looked at, not 1/3 of them.

How many I have is utterly irrelevant.

[LomSak27]

If only we could stop the money, everything would go back ot normal. This sounds as much a pipe dream as remove Thaksin and corruption will be seriously dented.

The same people who pawned off that fable are out searching for bank accounts. Good luck and have fun.