Hearings begin in July on alleged wrongs of ousted govt

BANGKOK, July 1 (TNA) - Major cases filed by Thailand's graft-busting
agency Assets Examination Committee (AEC) against ousted prime minister
Thaksin Shinawatra and his government are expected to begin hearings in
July, AEC spokesman Sak Korsangruang said on Monday.

Speaking to journalists as the AEC tenure was officially ending Monday,
Mr. Sak said the unanimous decision of the Constitution Court made earlier
in the day that the establishment of the AEC by the military coup-makers
in September 2006, as well as its extended term, were lawful and showed
that the legal procedures charged by the AEC could now proceed in court.

He said significant charges including alleged tax evasion in share
transfers in Shin Corp, a telecom company previously owned by Mr.
Thaksin's family, and the two- and three-digit lottery scheme launched by
the ousted administration are expected to begin hearings next month.

The case for alleged tax evasion was concluded and forwarded for
consideration of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), while the
charge on the lottery scheme was passed to the Supreme Court's Criminal
Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Mr. Sak said proudly that the AEC was successful in accomplishing
investigation of 12 cases within the past 21 months. Of the total, five
cases have been sent to the court while the remaining seven cases were
dispatched to the OAG for its consideration.

He said cases probed by his agency and unable to be completed would be
transferred to the Office of the National Counter Corruption Commission to
proceed with the investigation. (TNA)