Panthongtae "Oak" Shinawatra, the only son of fugitive former premier Thaksin, has been charged with money laundering and has reported to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to acknowledge the charge, the agency said yesterday.
Three other suspects also reported to the DSI on Tuesday to recognise the same charges against them in connection with the Krungthai Bank (KTB) loan scandal, DSI deputy chief Pol Lt Col Songsak Raksaksakul said. They reported one week ahead of the Oct 24 deadline.
They denied all the charges and were released without bail as no arrest warrants have been issued, he said.
The others were identified as Kanchanapha Honghern, a former secretary of Thaksin's ex-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra; Wanchai Honghern, the current husband of Ms Kanchanapha; and Kesinee Jipiphop, Ms Kanchanapha's mother.
Pol Lt Col Songsak said the DSI did not plan to summon them for further questioning but the suspects can submit documents or other materials as evidence in a bid to prove their innocence.
Former justice minister Chaikasen Nitisiri has reportedly been asked to lead the legal team representing Mr Panthongtae and was present when he gave statements to the DSI officials. His sisters, Pintongta Kunakornwong and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, also showed up to give him moral support.
DSI director-general Paisit Wongmuang said Mr Panthongtae's legal team asked for 30 days to collect information and evidence. The DSI's criminal investigation was launched after the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) last December lodged a complaint with the agency accusing the four of laundering money by receiving cheques worth 10 million baht and 26 million baht, respectively, tied to the loans.
The KTB scandal involves 9.9 billion baht of loans given by the KTB to subsidiaries of the Krisdamahanakorn (KMN) real estate company during the government of Thaksin Shinawatra. The loans were granted even though the firm was listed with the bank as a non-performing debtor.