ID :
130216
Mon, 06/28/2010 - 18:13
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http://m.oananews.org//node/130216
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Companies suspected of funding Red Shirts report to DSI
BANGKOK, June 28 (TNA) - The first batch of companies suspected of unusual financial transactions in relation to the Red Shirt protests reported Monday to Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI), while family members of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra are scheduled to turn themselves in Tuesday.
Representatives of eight companies from an overall 83 individuals and firms were scheduled to report for questioning by eight sets of teams comprising officials from DSI, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and the Revenue Department.
Representatives of listed company SC Asset Corp. owned by Mr Thaksin's family was the first company appearing at the DSI head office Monday to be questioned seeking more information on the case by officials.
DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit said the companies in question will be given more time to prepare relevant documents and clarifications before
investigators.
The investigators later decided to allow the eight firms to clarify their financial transactions to the officials July 19.
On Tuesday, five more companies and Mr Thaksin’s family members are scheduled to report to the investigators.
The army chief earlier signed a summons for 83 persons and companies whose accounts have been frozen on suspicion of financing the Red Shirt
protests to report to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) from June 28-July 31.
Among the 83 individuals and companies are 23 family members of fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin, 23 politicians, 15 businesspersons, 17
protest leaders from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), and five retired senior military and police officers.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, as director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), said Monday that the investigation of alleged unusual transactions is not intimidation, but is aimed at preventing instigation in future.
Mr Suthep also ignored the threat of Red Shirt faction leader Somyot Preuksakasemsuk to file a complaint against CRES for freezing the accounts, in which he said affects the work of the persons alleged to have supplied funds to the anti-government cause.
The centre director said the CRES reaction will cut the flow of money used to finance moves to incite disruptions in the country, adding that the CRES process is done step by step, beginning with observing the unusually active accounts of some 100 persons and firms, but some were removed from the CRES monitoring list after scrutiny of nine months of transactions and finding no link to the movement.
Mr Suthep said the remaining 83 individuals and companies will be studied to determine whether they have financially supported the ill-intentioned
groups and if any involvement is found, they will face legal action.
"CRES has followed the rule of law," said the deputy premier. "If the affected person wants to file a complaint against the agency, we are willing to face this as we must accept that the disgruntled person will counterattack us."
Mr Suthep added the freeze on suspected transactions has proven that it works as terror has been halted. He also stated that the CRES operation
is not intended to harrass anyone but is being done for national stability. (TNA)
Representatives of eight companies from an overall 83 individuals and firms were scheduled to report for questioning by eight sets of teams comprising officials from DSI, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and the Revenue Department.
Representatives of listed company SC Asset Corp. owned by Mr Thaksin's family was the first company appearing at the DSI head office Monday to be questioned seeking more information on the case by officials.
DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit said the companies in question will be given more time to prepare relevant documents and clarifications before
investigators.
The investigators later decided to allow the eight firms to clarify their financial transactions to the officials July 19.
On Tuesday, five more companies and Mr Thaksin’s family members are scheduled to report to the investigators.
The army chief earlier signed a summons for 83 persons and companies whose accounts have been frozen on suspicion of financing the Red Shirt
protests to report to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) from June 28-July 31.
Among the 83 individuals and companies are 23 family members of fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin, 23 politicians, 15 businesspersons, 17
protest leaders from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), and five retired senior military and police officers.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, as director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), said Monday that the investigation of alleged unusual transactions is not intimidation, but is aimed at preventing instigation in future.
Mr Suthep also ignored the threat of Red Shirt faction leader Somyot Preuksakasemsuk to file a complaint against CRES for freezing the accounts, in which he said affects the work of the persons alleged to have supplied funds to the anti-government cause.
The centre director said the CRES reaction will cut the flow of money used to finance moves to incite disruptions in the country, adding that the CRES process is done step by step, beginning with observing the unusually active accounts of some 100 persons and firms, but some were removed from the CRES monitoring list after scrutiny of nine months of transactions and finding no link to the movement.
Mr Suthep said the remaining 83 individuals and companies will be studied to determine whether they have financially supported the ill-intentioned
groups and if any involvement is found, they will face legal action.
"CRES has followed the rule of law," said the deputy premier. "If the affected person wants to file a complaint against the agency, we are willing to face this as we must accept that the disgruntled person will counterattack us."
Mr Suthep added the freeze on suspected transactions has proven that it works as terror has been halted. He also stated that the CRES operation
is not intended to harrass anyone but is being done for national stability. (TNA)
