Thai Military Revives Thaksin Corruption Inquiry

A national counter-corruption commission revived by Thailand's new military rulers began work today on the more than 10,000 allegations of corruption under the regime of the ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

The NCCC, which Mr Thaksin abolished several years ago, announced former government members will have 30 days to declare their assets. Members warned against expecting too many rapid results.

"[We're facing] tons of documents and 10,000 unresolved cases," commissioner Kranarong Chantik said yesterday.

A newly created and more powerful investigative panel charged with probing key members of Mr Thaksin's family and inner circle will meet for the first time on Wednesday. It will be allowed to freeze and seize assets in cases of suspected wrongdoing.

The junta - which seized power in a bloodless coup last Tuesday while Mr Thaksin was in New York at the UN general assembly - has made fighting corruption its top priority along with rewriting the constitution to prevent the kinds of abuses of which Mr Thaksin is accused.

"There is sufficient evidence to believe that [members of the former government] abused their power to reap benefits for their personal gain, and caused serious damage to the country," the military said in a late-night television announcement yesterday that interrupted programming.

One of the first cases expected to be completed is on the allegedly shady purchase of scanner equipment for Bangkok's new airport, which opens on Thursday, and construction equipment for the transport links to the capital.

The auditor general, Jaruvan Maintaka, said today her report on the case would be submitted to the new panel within a few days. She predicted up to nine people would be charged with various offences.

The head of the new super-panel, Sawat Chotiphanit, said all senior politicians would be investigated. "If we find evidence that they tried to transfer their assets overseas we will freeze the assets," he said.

Speculation has been rife that Mr Thaksin and his family tried to smuggle assets abroad earlier this month. Local media have reported how Mr Thaksin took dozens of pieces of luggage when he left Thailand. Thai Airways has announced the prime minister's office chartered a plane while Mr Thaksin was abroad and sent dozens of pieces of luggage two days before the coup.

One of Mr Thaksin's lawyers, Wichit Plangsrisakul, told the Associated Press that he thought Mr Thaksin and former ministers would cooperate with investigators.

"I have not yet talked to Prime Minister Thaksin and his family but I believe that he is ready to testify to clear himself," Mr Wichit said.