ID :
145191
Thu, 10/07/2010 - 18:29
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http://m.oananews.org//node/145191
The shortlink copeid
Bt823 million returned to Thaksin's ex-wife
BANGKOK, Oct 7 - The Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) on Thursday said it has returned Bt823 million (US$27.4 million) to the ex-wife of Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after it decided not to appeal the court ruling that the ex-premier's former wife must return plots of land to the FIDF.
Bank of Thailand (BoT) Deputy Governor Thong-urai Limpiti, as the fund manager, said the FIDF board resolved not to appeal the court verdict as advised by the Office of the Attorney-General and the central bank's legal department.
The Civil Court last month ruled that the purchase agreement for plots of Ratchadapisek land between the FIDF and Khunying Pojaman na Pombejra was invalidated as it had violated Article 100 of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act that government officials, including prime ministers and their spouses, are prohibited from entering into or having an interest in contracts with state agencies under their supervision.
According to the ruling, the four title deeds covering a total of 33 rai in the prime Ratchadapisek area, Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, purchased by Khunying Pojaman must be returned to the FIDF which will in turn reimburse her the Bt772 million (US$25.7 million) purchase price and pay 7.5 per cent interest retroactively from Nov 25, 2009 when Khunying Potjaman filed suit against the FIDF to return the money, or about Bt51 million (US$1.7 million).
"The reasons why we do not appeal and return the money plus interest (to Khunying Pojaman) is because the Attorney General said the civil court ruling is in accordance with the facts and the law," said Mrs Thong-urai.
The BoT deputy governor said the return of money to Khunying Pojaman gives more advantage to the FIDF than appealing the court verdict, citing the interest will be increased if the case is prolonged.
The overall cost paid to the ex-premier's former wife is also lower than the current land estimated price assessed by the Department of Lands at Bt900 million, according to Mrs Thong-urai.
The civil court ruling came after the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Oct 21, 2008 sentenced Thaksin to two years in prison for abuse of authority by helping his then wife purchase the land at a discounted price. But the court did not find his wife, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, guilty and revoked the arrest warrant against her.
FIDF filed a lawsuit with the Civil Court on Sept 18 last year, asking it to annul the Dec 30, 2003 Ratchadapisek land sale, and order Khunying Pojaman to return the land to the fund.
Ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, convicted former premier Thaksin now lives in self-imposed exile at an undisclosed location after jumping bail. (MCOT online news)
Bank of Thailand (BoT) Deputy Governor Thong-urai Limpiti, as the fund manager, said the FIDF board resolved not to appeal the court verdict as advised by the Office of the Attorney-General and the central bank's legal department.
The Civil Court last month ruled that the purchase agreement for plots of Ratchadapisek land between the FIDF and Khunying Pojaman na Pombejra was invalidated as it had violated Article 100 of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act that government officials, including prime ministers and their spouses, are prohibited from entering into or having an interest in contracts with state agencies under their supervision.
According to the ruling, the four title deeds covering a total of 33 rai in the prime Ratchadapisek area, Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, purchased by Khunying Pojaman must be returned to the FIDF which will in turn reimburse her the Bt772 million (US$25.7 million) purchase price and pay 7.5 per cent interest retroactively from Nov 25, 2009 when Khunying Potjaman filed suit against the FIDF to return the money, or about Bt51 million (US$1.7 million).
"The reasons why we do not appeal and return the money plus interest (to Khunying Pojaman) is because the Attorney General said the civil court ruling is in accordance with the facts and the law," said Mrs Thong-urai.
The BoT deputy governor said the return of money to Khunying Pojaman gives more advantage to the FIDF than appealing the court verdict, citing the interest will be increased if the case is prolonged.
The overall cost paid to the ex-premier's former wife is also lower than the current land estimated price assessed by the Department of Lands at Bt900 million, according to Mrs Thong-urai.
The civil court ruling came after the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Oct 21, 2008 sentenced Thaksin to two years in prison for abuse of authority by helping his then wife purchase the land at a discounted price. But the court did not find his wife, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, guilty and revoked the arrest warrant against her.
FIDF filed a lawsuit with the Civil Court on Sept 18 last year, asking it to annul the Dec 30, 2003 Ratchadapisek land sale, and order Khunying Pojaman to return the land to the fund.
Ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, convicted former premier Thaksin now lives in self-imposed exile at an undisclosed location after jumping bail. (MCOT online news)
