BANGKOK, June 21 – Activists on Tuesday asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take legal action against Yingluck Shinawatra, youngest sister of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, top list candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, accusing her of perjury and falsified stock trading in connection with the assets concealment case involving her brother and his then wife.
Tul Sitthisomwong and Kaewsan Atibodhi, former member of the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee (AEC) and a few associates, petitioned DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit.
The DSI chief said it was the first case with such a large number–almost 4,000 complainants. He pledged to set up a working group to consider whether there are grounds for legal action against Ms Yingluck and whether it falls under DSI authority.
The agency will speed up its work on the case as the accused was a high-profile politician and the case draws public attention. The department will periodically update the public about progress on the case, Mr Tharit said.
Dr Tul argued that the move was not aimed at harrassing Ms Yingluck as claimed by the Pheu Thai party but is meant to seek justice and fairness for all investors.
Mr Kaewsan said he and other fellow activists will also ask the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate alleged perjury and counterfeit share trades in connection with Ms Yingluck’s past Shin Corp shareholding.
Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled on Feb 26 last year to seize Bt46 billion ($1.4 billion) from ousted prime minister Thaksin’s $2.29 billion in frozen assets, saying he had illegally concealed his ownership of stock in Shin Corp., the family’s telecommunications empire, and abused his authority by crafting government policies to benefit Shin Corp’s businesses.(MCOT online news)
