'RED SHOE' PLOT THICKENS, THE THAKSIN AFFAIR

Curiouser and curiouser

The long-running saga of Nathan Oman, the former singer accused of fraud, has taken an unexpected turn amid media reports that he borrowed money from a young disease victim and failed to return it after her death.

Nathan allegedly borrowed 100,000 baht from Nong Aom (Saowanee Rittichot), affectionately dubbed the Human Pupa, whose plight was aired on television as she battled the genetic skin disease ichthyosis.

Aom, who was confined to a wheelchair, died of lung cancer in March, aged 26. She fought the disease for 17 years. Her brave tale of suffering inspired many Thais, who took the young woman to their hearts.

Nathan borrowed 100,000 baht from the family four years ago, but since Aom's death had neither returned the money nor paid a visit, her grandmother Chalhong Jannark told the Manager newspaper.

''Nathan met Aom on TV. He was a friend, so when he asked for money, I lent him 80,000 baht which I had saved myself.

''Aom had 20,000 baht in her account, which Thais gave her after her appearance on TV.

''I was worried that would run out, so I lent him my money instead. Later I found out that he had asked Aom for more.

''She gave Nathan her ATM card, while telling me she had lost it. Only on her death bed did she tell me the truth. Nathan took her money too, but hasn't returned it.

''After she died, Nathan called to say he couldn't come to her funeral, as he was overseas. He hasn't visited since, nor returned the money,'' she said in tears.

Fraud claims are mounting up against Nathan, who has yet to respond to the latest claims. Earlier, Nathan's live-in housekeeper Saman Sukserm and her son Athit ''Jack'' Koonfai laid complaints with police against the former teen star, saying he borrowed 300,000 baht from them and failed to repay it.

At Hua Mak police station, Saman presented documents showing she had mortgaged family land to lend money to Nathan.

In her home province of Amnat Charoen, she presented police with an ATM slip showing she had transferred money to his account.

Two days before, Nathan called the media to reject allegations that he had defrauded the pair. Saman and her son caught wind of the press conference, and turned up uninvited.

Police are already investigating complaints of fraud against Nathan laid by former friends who say he reneged on promises to find them work, and take them on overseas tours.

A former accountant says Nathan promised to find her work at the Tourism Authority of Thailand. He charged a finder's fee of 78,780 baht, but when the job failed to come through, refused to pay her back. She laid a complaint with police in September.

In the same month, a group of six former friends claimed Nathan offered to take them on a tour to Nepal, which also failed to materialise. They withdrew their complaint after Nathan repaid their deposit.

Nathan is also in dispute with the Jamaree Yak Cafe Gallery in the Rama IV area, after the owners told police that he had made off with 130,000 baht in takings. They say Nathan is a joint share-holder, and they entrusted him with the money.

Nathan is still battling scepticism over the most spectacular claim he makes about himself, that Hollywood is paying him 100 million baht to appear in a blockbuster.

In July, he told journalists he had spent the past six months in the Arabian desert making the Prince of Red Shoe, a fantasy adventure starring Bruce Willis and Christina Ricci, and directed by Wolfgang Peterson for 20th Century Fox. Webboard sleuths can find no trace of the movie, and a spokesman for the studio, quoted in the media, says it doesn't exist.

Nathan's housekeeper Saman says she contacted police after she noticed Nathan moving his belongings out of the condo they shared in Soi Udomsuk 54.

Saman paid Nathan out of her savings, but when he kept coming for more, mortgaged 15 rai of family farmland in Amnat Charoen. Saman also borrowed from a bank, a loan shark, and relatives.

Now they have nothing. She never asked him to sign a loan agreement, as she trusted him. At the press conference, Nathan denied borrowing from Saman. ''If you can come up with any proof, I'll happily repay every baht,'' he said.

Police are looking into the complaints.

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Just good friends

Singer Siriwimol ''Mai'' Charoenpura likes older men, but denies she has a thing going for family friend Thaksin Shinawatra.

As the fugitive former leader dropped in to Cambodia to take up a controversial post as economic adviser, Mai told journalists that she had caught up with Thaksin during a Middle East stop-over three months ago.

Mai and her mother met Thaksin and his former wife for a meal and a spot of shopping. Mai denies she fled paparazzi in Dubai.

The pop singer says she was travelling back from London and stopped over in the United Arab Emirates. She knew Thaksin lived in Dubai, so gave him a call.

''We discussed claims in the Thai media that he had offered me 100 million baht to make a movie. Much as I'd love to make a film, I have never asked for the money, nor has he offered,'' she said.

Later, Thaksin and his former wife Khunying Potjaman took their guests shopping. Potjaman na Pombejra, as she is now known, bought Mai and her mum a Louis Vuitton bag each.

''Thaksin has known my family since I was a child. While I do fancy older men, I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to think I could end up with him,'' she said, commenting on speculation that she had supplanted rock singer Saranrat ''Lydia'' Wisutthithada _ another Thaksin family friend _ in his affections.

In August 2007 Thaksin threw a street party in England to celebrate his purchase of the Manchester City football team. At his invitation, Mai and Lydia performed at the event.

Lydia recently signed up for a 40 million baht home in Samut Sakhon, and was hit by media speculation that Thaksin had bought her the place. Lydia denied it.

Earlier, an erroneous prediction by a fortune-teller that Lydia was pregnant set off speculation that Thaksin was the father. She denied that claim too, and is taking legal action against the fortune-teller who uttered the pregnancy claim.

''Mr Thaksin has a family of his own. I am like a youngster, visiting someone my senior. He knows my parents. We don't make eyes at each other,'' Mai said.