Extracted from:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...07-09-16-43-36
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- The government will freeze another $60.9 million in assets believed to be controlled by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, bringing to $2.3 billion the total frozen on suspicion it was obtained through corruption, an official said Monday.
A state-appointed panel has been seeking the money earned from the Shinawatra family's $2.34 billion sale last year of telecommunications company Shin Corp. Family members face charges of breaking stock market regulations in the sale.
The state Assets Examination Commission was established after Thaksin was overthrown in a September 2006 coup. If a court convicts Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power, the government could seize the money.
Thaksin has denied any wrongdoing and accused the military-appointed government of political persecution.
The committee decided Monday to freeze an additional $60.9 million in four different Thai bank accounts belonging to Phantongtae Shinawatra, Thaksin's only son, said panel spokesman Sak Korseangruang.
The committee believes the money earned from the Shin Corp. deal has been shifted around through several bank accounts. Sak said the panel had tracked the movement since mid-June of the money ordered frozen Monday.
Calls to Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin's lawyer, seeking comment rang unanswered.
Thaksin became a billionaire in the telecommunications sector before entering politics and serving as prime minister between 2001-2006. He was ousted in a military coup after demonstrations calling for him to step down because of alleged corruption and abuse of power.
Last week, Thaksin bought the English Premier League soccer team Manchester City through his company UK Sports Investments Limited, and became its new chairman.
The committee has no power to freeze assets held abroad, though there are legal avenues through which it could request the cooperation of overseas banks and agencies.
Thaksin, who was abroad during the coup, has been dividing his time between a home in London and travel around Asia. He has been given until the end of July to report to Thai police or face a possible arrest warrant on charges of failing to report corporate information to the Thai stock exchange. He has said he will not meet the deadline.
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Well, I must say Thaksin is a veryclever guy indeed, to shift his assets by buying over the football club
Thailand to Freeze Assets of Former PM 
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