"My duty was to sign documents" : Panthongtae
Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, testified during his session with an Assets Examination Subcommittee on Wednesday that it was his mother's personal secretary who conducted the sale on his behalf of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.
Wiroj Laohapan, a subcommittee member, quoted Panthongtae as testifying that he did not know much about the sale of the shares of Shin Corps and his duty was just to signed the appropriate documents while Kanjanapa Honghern, personal secretary of his mother, Khunying Pojaman, was in charge of all procedures involving the controversial sale.
Panthongtae testified before the subcommittee for two hours concerning his involvement in the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings last year. The subcommittee was investigating his involvement in the controversial business transaction.
According to Wiroj, most of his answers to the subcommittee's questions were: "No, I don't know."
Wiroj added that the subcommittee will ask Kanjanapa, who is scheduled to appear on January 12, to clarify Pantongtae's testimony. Thaksin's second child, daughter Pintongta, is scheduled for January 24 for questioning on the same issue.
On his way back to his car after the session, Panthongtae reiterated that the sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings was in accordance with the law.
Panthongtae, who was accompanied by his younger sister Paethongtarn, was hounded by scores of reporters who crowded his entry to and departure from the AEC office. The two had to literally fight their way through the thick crowd of reporters as security details appeared helpless to push off the feisty journalists.
The two arrived at 10:50am and Panthongtae entered the subcommittee room at 11am. They broke for lunch at noon and reentered the process at about 1:45pm.
It was reported that he asked for a break three times during the procedure.
He said he had consulted over the process with his father who has been abroad since being ousted by the military junta in September.
On the way back to his car after finishing his testimony, his supporters who had gathered since the morning, shouted his nickname: "Oak! Fight on! Fight on!"
Meanwhile subcommittee member Klanarong Chantik said that the subcommittee members just took notes on what Pantongtae said.
"We are in the process of collecting information and evidence concerning the allegations," Klanarong said.
Another subcommittee member, Sak Korsaengrueng, said that Pantongtae was invited to give testimony, not as an accused person.
"Everything is fine," Sak said. "He could answer nearly all questions which are basic in nature. It is likely that we will not invite him again for testimony unless we need more information," Sak said.
The Nation