March 10, 2008
BANGKOK - The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) filed new criminal charges against deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing him of wrongly legalising a lottery scheme.
The AEC brought the charges to the Supreme Court, said the head of the investigation, Udom Fuangfoong.
The panel bypassed the Office of the Attorney General to file the complaint after prosecutors declined to take part in the case.
The charges focus on a procedural issue, claiming that Thaksin and his cabinet legalised the two-three-digit lottery with a decree, when they should have sought parliamentary approval.
Thaksin and 46 others were charged.
"Now we just have to wait for the court to decide whether to take the case or to drop it. I do not know how long the court will take to announce its decision," Udom told AFP.
The Supreme Court has already accepted a corruption case accusing Thaksin of using his office to win a property deal for his wife in 2003.
Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Chureemas were involved in the case.
