Thai prosecutor: Thaksin's divorce won't affect assets seizure

BANGKOK, Nov 17 (TNA) - Last week’s divorce between Thailand's former
prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his now former wife Pojaman would have no affect on the state seizure of assets worth Bt76 billion from the ousted premier, according to a senior prosecutor.

Nanthasak Poolsuk, a member of the prosecution team responsible for
seizing Mr. Thaksin’s Bt76 billion assets in connection with graft
charges, said the couple's divorce would have no effect on the assets
seizure ruling as Mr. Thaksin was named as the only defendant by the
now-expired Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

The AEC ruled that Mr. Thaksin had become unusally rich after selling his
Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings in January 2006 for Bt73.3
billion without paying taxes.

The duo had informed the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC)
that their assets were transferred to their children, close relatives and
friends before Mr. Thaksin became a politician, Mr. Nanthasak said.

Mr. Nanthasak said it was not possible for Mrs. Pojaman to request the
supreme court to separate her assets from Mr. Thaksin after the divorce.
Also, banks which had seized the couple’s assets would not do anything
until the assets seizure case reached a final verdict.

Press reports in Bangkok said Mr. Thaksin, who was ousted in a September
2006 coup, had divorced his wife at the Thai consulate in Hong Kong last
Friday.

Sources close to Mr. Thaksin's family have, however, described the
separation of the couple as a "divorce on paper only", suggesting the
action was taken for practical and legal reasons. (TNA)