By NNN-TNA
Bangkok : The Stock Exchange of Thailand is ready to cooperate in tracing ‘’missing� funds of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered frozen recently by the Asset Examination Committee, according to SET president Patareeya Benjapolchai.
Funds amounting to Bt2.82 billion (BT1=0.03077USD), a part of the proceeds received by the deposed premier’s family from the sale of Shin Corp shares to Singapore’s Temasek Holdings early last year were withdrawn from bank accounts of Mr. Thaksin and his family before AEC ordered the assets frozen on Tuesday.
Mrs. Patareeya said if AEC formally request SET to trace the missing amount, it was ready to cooperate and instruct local brokerage houses to examine share transactions in portfolio accounts of the Shinawatra family.
However, SET had not yet received a letter from the AEC.
The SET chief also called on investors to make investment decision at their own discretion since rumours, including a possible counter coup and imposition of curfew in the city, swirled in the market on Wednesday.
Bank of Thailand Governor Tarisa Watanagase said the central bank had already sent its officials to join the AEC’s subcommittee tasked to go after the missing funds. So, it is unnecessary to wait for the AEC’s written request.
The central bank on Wednesday reported another 8.2 billion baht had been withdrawn from bank accounts of Mr. Thaksin and his family shortly before AEC ordered their assets frozen.
Earlier, more than 20 billion baht had been found withdrawn from the banks accounts. The amount is part of 73.3 billion baht gained from the deposed premier’s and his family’s sale of a 49 per cent stake of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings in January last year.