DSI to investigate Prem over KTB loan scandal role
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has accepted for investigation a complaint against Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda who received a cheque from the owner of a real-estate company implicated in the Krungthai Bank (KTB) loan scandal, a source said yesterday.
The decision to look into the complaint against Gen Prem has been recommended by the DSI’s Bureau of Special Case Management which found the case relevant to the fraudulent KTB loan to a subsidiary of Krisdamahanakorn.
The move follows a complaint lodged by a lawyer of Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is accused of money laundering in connection with the KTB loan.
The KTB scandal involves a 9.9-billionbaht loan the state-run bank granted to a subsidiary of Krisdamahanakorn even though the firm was listed by the bank as a non-performing debtor.
The DSI is looking into the money-laundering aspect of the scandal, focusing on individuals who allegedly received part of the fraudulent loan. Receiving assets from a corrupt scheme forms the basis of money laundering under Thai law.
It was alleged that the owner of the company, Wichai Krisdathanon, signed cheques to several people including Gen Prem and Adm Prajun Tamprateep, a close associate of Gen Prem, and Mr Panthongtae.
According to the source, the DSI has no choice but to accept the complaint for investigation.
Based on initial interviews of witnesses, Mr Wichai signed a cheque worth 100,000 baht to Gen Prem because he wanted to donate the money to the General Prem Tinsulanonda Statesman Foundation.
After receiving the cheque, Gen Prem paid the money into the foundation’s account, according to the source.
Adm Prajun, on the other hand, received a cheque worth 200,000 baht from Mr Wichai as payment for a banquet organised for members of a training programme at the National Defence College.
The DSI recently decided to seek the indictment of Mr Panthongtae and two others on money laundering charges after they were found to have received two cheques tied to the scandal.
The other two suspects were Kanchanapha Honghern, a former secretary of Thaksin’s ex-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra; and Wanchai Honghern, Ms Kanchanapha’s husband.
Oneofthechequeswasfor10millionbaht and paid into Mr Panthongtae’s account.