Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has given his instruction on the drafting of the closing statement on his seventy six billion Baht in impounded assets, his legal adviser Noppadon Patama said on Friday.

Under his instruction, Thaksin wanted his defence team to fully outline pertinent facts related to the case, Noppadon said.

One of the key facts is the complete transfer of his wealth to his adult children before assuming office in 2001.

The closing statement will rigorously reiterate a rebuttal that Thaksin had no involvement in abusing policies to enrich himself or his family.

In regard to the concern about the eruption of violence if the verdict is unfavourable to Thaksin, he said his client and the red shirts did not want to see society plunging into chaos. But at the same time, normalcy will not prevail in the absence of justice and democracy, he added.

Noppadon refused to speculate on the verdict, saying the defence can only hope for justice but not in the position to trangress on the judicial discretion.

He said Thaksin was visiting Asian countries but had not planned on arriving in Phnom Phen in early February as speculated.

The verdict on the asset seizure case is scheduled for February 26th.



Source: The Nation