Thaksin's daughter refuses inquiry
The eldest daughter of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra was today called to give evidence in a tax evasion case in the country – as the man who threw out her father began his career as a politician.
But Pintongta Shinawatra, eldest daughter of Manchester City football club owner Mr Thaksin, refused to answer questions by the state Assets Examination Committee in Bangkok over the sale of Shin Corporation shares saying she would not testify against her parents.
Her lawyer said she handed over a document in the closed hearing that outlined her stance.
According to Mr Thaksin’s opponents, his fall began with that decision to sell the shares.
The sale angered his critics, who complained that the family avoided paying tax and passed control of an important national asset to Singaporean investors.
Meanwhile today army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin who led last year’s coup in Thailand that overthrew Mr Thaksin took up the post of one of the country’s three deputy prime ministers.
He told reporters: “My new job will be to oversee security policy,” which is more or less what his old job was.
Critics say his involvement in politics would show the military’s desire to prolong its grip on power and could spark another political crisis.
