Thailand to freeze more ex-PM assets

The Thai government will freeze an additional $147 million in assets believed to be controlled by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, officials said Monday.

The Assets Examination Commission, established after a coup deposed Thaksin last September, has already frozen more than $1.8 billion of his family's wealth pending the outcome of court cases related to charges of corruption and abuse of power.

If the courts rule against Thaksin, the money could be seized by the government.

The committee decided Monday to freeze another $147 million in three bank accounts belonging to Bannaphot Damapong, the brother of Thaksin's wife, said committee spokesman Sak Korseangruang.

Separately, the state Election Commission approved filing criminal charges against nine people for violating election laws during an April 2006 vote called by Thaksin, spokesman Sutthiphol Thawichaikan said. They include two executives of Thaksin's dissolved Thai Rak Thai party — the former defense and transport ministers.

The Constitutional Tribunal last month ordered Thaksin's party dissolved on the same charges, and barred its more than 100 executive members from public office for five years.

Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon, called the snap election to reaffirm his mandate after facing months of anti-government demonstrations over alleged corruption and abuse of power.

The election was later annulled by the courts. A prolonged political crisis culminated in the bloodless coup while Thaksin was abroad.

Thaksin has since divided his time between a home in London and travel around Asia. He has been ordered to report to Thai police by June 29 to face charges related to a case of failing to report corporate information to the Thai stock exchange.