Thaksin riches to be seized
From IHT.com:
"I think it's great news," said Vichai Charoenkit, a street food vendor in Bangkok. "He can do to Man City what he did with the mobile phone business in Thailand. And talented kids from here may be able to go there to practice, improve their tactics or even join Premier League teams. Anything is possible."
"I think it's great news," said Vichai Charoenkit, a street food vendor in Bangkok. "He can do to Man City what he did with the mobile phone business in Thailand. And talented kids from here may be able to go there to practice, improve their tactics or even join Premier League teams. Anything is possible."
Yeah, regardless of how he did it, he has a big following still. Maybe he gave the poor some or more hope than other governments have. He's turning into the Thai Robin Hood. PeteSTEVE G wrote:From IHT.com:
"I think it's great news," said Vichai Charoenkit, a street food vendor in Bangkok. "He can do to Man City what he did with the mobile phone business in Thailand. And talented kids from here may be able to go there to practice, improve their tactics or even join Premier League teams. Anything is possible."
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Guess
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The amount required to purchase Man City is relatively small in the overall picture of things. From many things I have read over the past two years I think it is extremely unlikely that Thaksin kept all liquid assets in Thailand.
He must have know way back before the Shin Corp sale that his stash maybe at risk. While he stays out of Thailand he has a chance of liquidizing his assets and what better way can you think of than buying a relatively prestigious Premier Side. This has the added bonus of keeping him in the public eye in Asia. We would see him every week on TV over here. The freezing of assets in Thailand would have an impact on cash flow but only a minor hiccup.
Anyway this topic (the Man City aspect) may become irrelevant as I have just heard on Than TV that Man City have refused any offer from Thaksin on the grounds that the money is dirty and they don't want any part of it.
If this is true they get my full respect. Not only have they done the right thing but I think they will go down on record as being the first organization in the public limelight that have openly stated that Thaksin is in possession of dirty money.
I wonder if this decision was made with, or without, advice from the British Government or its financial authorities.
He must have know way back before the Shin Corp sale that his stash maybe at risk. While he stays out of Thailand he has a chance of liquidizing his assets and what better way can you think of than buying a relatively prestigious Premier Side. This has the added bonus of keeping him in the public eye in Asia. We would see him every week on TV over here. The freezing of assets in Thailand would have an impact on cash flow but only a minor hiccup.
Anyway this topic (the Man City aspect) may become irrelevant as I have just heard on Than TV that Man City have refused any offer from Thaksin on the grounds that the money is dirty and they don't want any part of it.
If this is true they get my full respect. Not only have they done the right thing but I think they will go down on record as being the first organization in the public limelight that have openly stated that Thaksin is in possession of dirty money.
I wonder if this decision was made with, or without, advice from the British Government or its financial authorities.
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In my opinion with nothing to back it up...WITH. I think most governments in the world are aware enough now that it's time to move on and say sawadee to Mr. T and let him fade into history.Guess wrote:I wonder if this decision was made with, or without, advice from the British Government or its financial authorities.
Now, we could actually see a backlash against farangs, especially up in Issan over this. We'll get blamed for blocking his purchase. I know, I am in the depths of paranoia but stranger things have happened here. Maybe a good reply would be, "Sufficency does not include ownership of football teams...".
Pete 
PS: I'm waiting to read that his lecturing deal at that Tokyo University has been cancelled as well. The Japanese would be wise to do that at this point, unless they're scared about the reaction of all their Issan workers in their Thai factories?
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lockwood74
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Thaksin not returning by 29th June
Just read that Thaksins lawyer has said he will not return to Thailand on or before 29th June to face corruption charges. The Thai authorities issued a statement saying he must return before this date.
I this this will get the Thai authorities extremely angry, wait to see what happens next.......
I this this will get the Thai authorities extremely angry, wait to see what happens next.......
I think it's pretty obvious that once he's back here he won't be allowed to leave again until all charges are cleared. He would be quite stupid to come back, really. His wife is in Singapore, allegedly with heart and other physical problems and I don't expect to see her back here either.
Their kids....? who knows. I don't think the government can lay all of this on them if dad and mom refuse to show. At their age I would suspect that they've also given up on any future in Thailand as well, at least for the next 10 years or so.
Mr. & Mrs. T will let the lawyers fight it out concerning their frozen assets and as Khun Guess said, what has been frozen may only be a pittance as compared to what they have stashed outside already. Pete
Their kids....? who knows. I don't think the government can lay all of this on them if dad and mom refuse to show. At their age I would suspect that they've also given up on any future in Thailand as well, at least for the next 10 years or so.
Mr. & Mrs. T will let the lawyers fight it out concerning their frozen assets and as Khun Guess said, what has been frozen may only be a pittance as compared to what they have stashed outside already. Pete
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Guess
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As the Man city situation has move onto another thread we can keep this one for debates and news about the Thaksin situation as a whole.
News this morning reported trucks being stopped on Highway 1 & 2 heading south. The trucks stopped were the cattle truck type that were all full of people. When questioned by Police many stated that they had been paid by the TRT to go to Bangkok and protest for the return of Thaksin.
That answers my earlier question when first seeing the news of the protests. The question was where the hell did all those nutters suddenly spring from and why have they suddenly decided to state there views now.
No I have a shrewd idea. The leopard never changes its spots. Same MO, same paid for supporters, same man. I hope the Brits have the good sense to monitor all his communications.
News this morning reported trucks being stopped on Highway 1 & 2 heading south. The trucks stopped were the cattle truck type that were all full of people. When questioned by Police many stated that they had been paid by the TRT to go to Bangkok and protest for the return of Thaksin.
That answers my earlier question when first seeing the news of the protests. The question was where the hell did all those nutters suddenly spring from and why have they suddenly decided to state there views now.
No I have a shrewd idea. The leopard never changes its spots. Same MO, same paid for supporters, same man. I hope the Brits have the good sense to monitor all his communications.
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BANGKOK (Reuters) - Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra plans to sue the military government for the return of the $1.8 billion of assets frozen by anti-graft investigators, the Financial Times said on Friday.
"It's my money, my family money," he told the newspaper in an interview in London. "They have no right to take it. We will sue them anyway. We have to sue, otherwise we cannot get our money back."
Thaksin, ousted in a September coup by generals accusing him of running a corrupt government, said he had retired from politics and would return to Bangkok as a private citizen, "but not now".
However, few who know the fiercely ambitious former telecommunications tycoon believe he is happy to turn his back on power and said the City deal could well be a ploy to ensure maximum exposure back home while he remains in exile.
"One certain thing is that from a public relations point of view, having a football club is probably better than having an election rally," Bangkok-based business consultant Christopher Bruton said.
"People watch football, there's a lot of interest in football, and one very good way to get yourself on the TV screens is to be the proud owner of a football club."
Thai state prosecutors on Thursday formally charged Thaksin with "official misconduct" relating to his wife's purchase of a prime piece of Bangkok real estate.
A day later, news that English Premier League soccer club Manchester City was backing Thaksin's 81.6 million pound ($162.6 million) takeover bid was splashed across front pages back in Thailand.
Thaksin, who has been living in London since the coup, said he was not worried about his personal safety but was concerned about the potential for clashes between the military and the public were he to return.
Asked how he could pursue the military government for the return of assets if he was not in Thailand, Thaksin said his wife and children would fight the case.
"It's my money, my family money," he told the newspaper in an interview in London. "They have no right to take it. We will sue them anyway. We have to sue, otherwise we cannot get our money back."
Thaksin, ousted in a September coup by generals accusing him of running a corrupt government, said he had retired from politics and would return to Bangkok as a private citizen, "but not now".
However, few who know the fiercely ambitious former telecommunications tycoon believe he is happy to turn his back on power and said the City deal could well be a ploy to ensure maximum exposure back home while he remains in exile.
"One certain thing is that from a public relations point of view, having a football club is probably better than having an election rally," Bangkok-based business consultant Christopher Bruton said.
"People watch football, there's a lot of interest in football, and one very good way to get yourself on the TV screens is to be the proud owner of a football club."
Thai state prosecutors on Thursday formally charged Thaksin with "official misconduct" relating to his wife's purchase of a prime piece of Bangkok real estate.
A day later, news that English Premier League soccer club Manchester City was backing Thaksin's 81.6 million pound ($162.6 million) takeover bid was splashed across front pages back in Thailand.
Thaksin, who has been living in London since the coup, said he was not worried about his personal safety but was concerned about the potential for clashes between the military and the public were he to return.
Asked how he could pursue the military government for the return of assets if he was not in Thailand, Thaksin said his wife and children would fight the case.
Police in UK set sights on Bt10 bn
Thai authorities asked what they want to do about money in banks.
British authorities have asked Thailand's Anti Money Laundering Office (AMLO) what action it wants them to take over Bt10 billion deposited in London bank accounts that belong to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a source said yesterday.
The unnamed British agency that investigates money laundering crimes also said Thaksin had another sum of money deposited in Switzerland, accor-ding to the source. AMLO has informed the Assets Exami-nation Committee (AEC) about the money and is waiting for the graft-busters' decision on action to be taken.
"The AMLO has been checking whether Thaksin used money gained from corruption in his Bt5.6-billion bid to take over Manchester City Football Club. If that is the case, the ownership of the football club must be questioned - whether it should actually belong to the country," Department of Special Investigations chief Sunai Manomai-udom said earlier this week.
AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem yesterday said the National Counter Corruption Commission can press assets concealment charges if Thaksin did not declare the Bt10 billion deposited in London banks.
"Under the NCCC law, political office holders have to declare all their assets no matter which country the assets are kept in,'' he said.
Nam said AMLO has full authority to take action without having to wait for the AEC's decision on whether they should check if the Bt10 billion, or any of Thaksin's money abroad, was ill-gained. He said the AEC focuses only on bank accounts that contain proceeds from the Shin Corp share sale.
Thaksin has been in self-imposed exile since being removed from power in last September's coup. The ousted premier and his family members face investigation and criminal charges over various alleged offences.
Apichart Thanomsap, a senior official at AMLO, confirmed the agency had been contacted. However, he refused to divulge any more information.
Assets Examination Committee spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said the panel was also waiting to receive a written report from AMLO about Thaksin's financial transactions. Thaksin is reported to have more than Bt10 billion overseas.
It remains unclear how he had transferred the money abroad.
Thaksin's lawyer, Noppadon Pattama, said: "It's not true. They are trying to discredit Thaksin. I insist that the former premier's money overseas amounts to less than Bt10 billion and the money is legal."
Noppadon was speaking after the AEC noted that the AMLO reported that the deposed premier had more than Bt10 billion in the UK and Switzerland.
AEC secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi was taken by surprise when reporters approached him about the information that had been leaked to reporters.
"You ask whoever leaked the news. It is a state secret. How can they leak such reports. It will be hard to work on this now,'' he said, while refusing to elaborate.
In a related development, Thaksin is set to raise his stake in Manchester City FC to 66 per cent by buying satellite TV giant BskyB's 9.9 per cent shareholding in the club, the Manchester Evening News reported yesterday.
That will put Thaksin within reach of the 75 per cent shareholding he needs to de-list the club from the London Stock Exchange, the newspaper reported on its website.
Meanwhile, UK sports minister Richard Caborn yesterday held talks with senior English football administrators to discuss concerns over the increase of foreign owners at top English clubs. This followed Thaksin's high-profile bid for Manchester City.
Caborn said after the meeting he wanted rules governing football club ownership constantly reviewed to protect links between local communities and their football clubs, according to BBC Sport.
"The meeting is not just about the Manchester City deal. The City deal has of course raised concerns, but this is just the latest in a growing trend," his spokesman was quoted as saying.
Source: The Nation
Thai authorities asked what they want to do about money in banks.
British authorities have asked Thailand's Anti Money Laundering Office (AMLO) what action it wants them to take over Bt10 billion deposited in London bank accounts that belong to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a source said yesterday.
The unnamed British agency that investigates money laundering crimes also said Thaksin had another sum of money deposited in Switzerland, accor-ding to the source. AMLO has informed the Assets Exami-nation Committee (AEC) about the money and is waiting for the graft-busters' decision on action to be taken.
"The AMLO has been checking whether Thaksin used money gained from corruption in his Bt5.6-billion bid to take over Manchester City Football Club. If that is the case, the ownership of the football club must be questioned - whether it should actually belong to the country," Department of Special Investigations chief Sunai Manomai-udom said earlier this week.
AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem yesterday said the National Counter Corruption Commission can press assets concealment charges if Thaksin did not declare the Bt10 billion deposited in London banks.
"Under the NCCC law, political office holders have to declare all their assets no matter which country the assets are kept in,'' he said.
Nam said AMLO has full authority to take action without having to wait for the AEC's decision on whether they should check if the Bt10 billion, or any of Thaksin's money abroad, was ill-gained. He said the AEC focuses only on bank accounts that contain proceeds from the Shin Corp share sale.
Thaksin has been in self-imposed exile since being removed from power in last September's coup. The ousted premier and his family members face investigation and criminal charges over various alleged offences.
Apichart Thanomsap, a senior official at AMLO, confirmed the agency had been contacted. However, he refused to divulge any more information.
Assets Examination Committee spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said the panel was also waiting to receive a written report from AMLO about Thaksin's financial transactions. Thaksin is reported to have more than Bt10 billion overseas.
It remains unclear how he had transferred the money abroad.
Thaksin's lawyer, Noppadon Pattama, said: "It's not true. They are trying to discredit Thaksin. I insist that the former premier's money overseas amounts to less than Bt10 billion and the money is legal."
Noppadon was speaking after the AEC noted that the AMLO reported that the deposed premier had more than Bt10 billion in the UK and Switzerland.
AEC secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi was taken by surprise when reporters approached him about the information that had been leaked to reporters.
"You ask whoever leaked the news. It is a state secret. How can they leak such reports. It will be hard to work on this now,'' he said, while refusing to elaborate.
In a related development, Thaksin is set to raise his stake in Manchester City FC to 66 per cent by buying satellite TV giant BskyB's 9.9 per cent shareholding in the club, the Manchester Evening News reported yesterday.
That will put Thaksin within reach of the 75 per cent shareholding he needs to de-list the club from the London Stock Exchange, the newspaper reported on its website.
Meanwhile, UK sports minister Richard Caborn yesterday held talks with senior English football administrators to discuss concerns over the increase of foreign owners at top English clubs. This followed Thaksin's high-profile bid for Manchester City.
Caborn said after the meeting he wanted rules governing football club ownership constantly reviewed to protect links between local communities and their football clubs, according to BBC Sport.
"The meeting is not just about the Manchester City deal. The City deal has of course raised concerns, but this is just the latest in a growing trend," his spokesman was quoted as saying.
Source: The Nation
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
BANGKOK (AFP) - Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a former telecoms tycoon, has fallen from grace and is no longer counted among Thailand's billionaires since the military froze his assets following last year's coup, Forbes said Friday.
Thaksin, once Thailand's fourth richest business man with a fortune worth 2.2 billion dollars, is now thought to be worth around 300 million dollars, the US magazine said.
The self-made tycoon "fell from the billionaire perch after facing frozen assets, multi-million dollar fines and other court decisions against his family," Forbes said.
The military, which overthrew Thaksin in a coup in September 2006, froze at least 1.52 billion dollars of assets belonging to him and his family.
Since the coup, Thaksin has remained in exile and now lives in London with his wife, Pojaman.
On Tuesday, Thailand's Supreme Court agreed to hear corruption charges against the couple and authorities warned they could issue an arrest warrant if they do not return home.
Although Thaksin was no longer a billionaire, he still ranked the 14th richest man in Thailand, Forbes said. Thaksin recently bought Manchester City football club for over 160 million dollars.
Forbes said Thailand's wealthiest business man is Chaleo Yoovidhya, who created the formula for the country's hugely popular energy drink called Red Bull. His net worth was 3.5 billion dollars.
Thaksin, once Thailand's fourth richest business man with a fortune worth 2.2 billion dollars, is now thought to be worth around 300 million dollars, the US magazine said.
The self-made tycoon "fell from the billionaire perch after facing frozen assets, multi-million dollar fines and other court decisions against his family," Forbes said.
The military, which overthrew Thaksin in a coup in September 2006, froze at least 1.52 billion dollars of assets belonging to him and his family.
Since the coup, Thaksin has remained in exile and now lives in London with his wife, Pojaman.
On Tuesday, Thailand's Supreme Court agreed to hear corruption charges against the couple and authorities warned they could issue an arrest warrant if they do not return home.
Although Thaksin was no longer a billionaire, he still ranked the 14th richest man in Thailand, Forbes said. Thaksin recently bought Manchester City football club for over 160 million dollars.
Forbes said Thailand's wealthiest business man is Chaleo Yoovidhya, who created the formula for the country's hugely popular energy drink called Red Bull. His net worth was 3.5 billion dollars.