Panthongtae "Oak" Shinawatra and three other suspects were yesterday summoned by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to hear money laundering charges against them in connection with the Krungthai Bank (KTB) loan scandal.
Panthongtae: Didn't intend to hide money
A DSI source yesterday said Mr Panthongtae, son of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the other three were required to report to the DSI to acknowledge their charges on Oct 24.
The others mentioned are Kanchanapha Honghern, a former secretary of Thaksin's ex-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra; Wanchai Honghern, the husband of Ms Kanchanapha; and Kesinee Jipiphop, Ms Kanchanapha's mother.
"After this step, the suspects have the right to defend themselves by presenting evidence. They can also decline to give testimonies to investigators, who will consider whether the case will be forwarded to prosecutors before the case's 15-year statute of limitations expires next year," the source said.
The move comes after additional information and evidence was submitted by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), which lodged a complaint with the DSI last month accusing the four of laundering money by receiving cheques tied to the loans.
The probe is focusing on whether they received part of a fraudulent KTB loan worth 9.9 billion baht.
The bank extended loans to subsidiaries of the Krisdamahanakorn (KMN) real-estate company during the Thaksin administration.
Mr Panthongtae's lawyer has written to the DSI asking it not to press money laundering charges against his client.
He said Mr Panthongtae was not aware the 10-million-baht cheque he received from KMN owner Wichai Krisdathanon was part of the dubious KTB loan, and he had no intention of concealing the money.
Kachornsak Phutthanuphap, a prosecutor aiding the DSI probe, said a civil case would have to decide on returning the money.
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