Oak renews plea for witnesses in KTB saga

Panthongtae “Oak” Shinawatra is asking the Department of Special Investigation to reconsider its refusal to take testimony in his defence from additional witnesses in connection with the Krungthai Bank (KTB) loan scandal case.

His lawyer Chumsai Sriyaphai made the request in a petition submitted to DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang.

Mr Chumsai said DSI investigators refused to take testimony from 10 defence witnesses added to the list, putting his client at a disadvantage.

These witnesses were “crucial to the accused in proving his innocence”, Mr Chumsai said.

The Anti-Money laundering Office (Amlo) has accused Mr Panthongtae, the only son of Thaksin Shinawatra, and three other suspects of laundering money by receiving cheques worth 10 million baht and 26 million baht tied to wrongfully approved KTB loans.

The KTB scandal involves 9.9 billion baht in loans the bank granted to subsidiaries of the Krisdamahanakorn (KMN) real estate company during the Thaksin administration even though the firm was listed by the bank as a non-performing debtor.

Mr Chumsai, in September last year, first sought justice in the case by asking the DSI not to accept the allegation filed by Amlo for consideration, arguing that it lacked clear evidence. However, the DSI decided to push ahead.

Mr Chumsai now alleges an irregularity surfaced during its continuing inquiry.

He suspected a “special power” may have interfered with the investigation, allegedly leading to the rejection of the witnesses.

Pol Col Paisit said the DSI was willing to question all witnesses, but the investigators were careful to accept only those who had new information to give, not evidence which repeated what others had to say.

He said some witnesses also delayed the case, asking investigators for postponements. The DSI planned to finish its investigation this month and wrap it up before the statute of limitations in the case expires in June, he said.

Mr Chumsai also petitioned the Office of the Attorney-General on Mr Panthongtae’s behalf yesterday. He sought the suspension of Kajornsak Phutthanuphap, deputy executive director for interrogation, accusing him of questioning only eight of 20 additional defence witnesses.

Mr Kajorn said Mr Panthongtae had wanted another 20 witnesses to give evidence, and the statute of limitations in the case was fast approaching.