June 21, 2007
LONDON (AFP) - Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra insisted in an interview Thursday he was innocent of corruption allegations and believes the freeze on his assets will be lifted.
"I think the freeze will be temporary. They (the Thai authorities) actually have no legal right to do this because it is my money," Thaksin told Sky Sports television after his takeover of Premiership side Manchester City was accepted.
"How can I corrupt my own money? That's money my family has been working hard for over 20 years. The money has come from the sale of the companies."
Thaksin, who fled to Britain last year after being deposed in a military coup, had an 81.6 million pound (121.4 million euro, 162.5 million dollar) offer for the English club accepted Thursday.
This came hours after prosecutors in Thailand laid formal criminal corruption charges against him.
He had to pass a worthiness test organised by the Premier League, which runs English football's top division, he told the broadcaster.
"I passed a test in the taking over process," he said.
"I had gone through so many questions. I think this is a very good system that I really like, even if I had to go through such a long process."
"It should have been finished two or three weeks ago, but I still like the system."
Despite the freeze on his assets, Thaksin said he was confident that money needed for the transaction to go through would be available.
"I think the funds have been allocated long before this. It has been prepared and been working for several months already," he said.
"All the money has been getting the approval from the authorities of Thailand to bring it for this investment."