By DPA
Bangkok : Thailand’s Assets Examination Committee (AEC) Monday filed a criminal lawsuit against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and 46 others for attempting to change the state lottery system in 2003, when he was still in power.
The AEC’s lawyers submitted a 150-page indictment of Thaksin and the other accused to the Supreme Court’s criminal tribunal for political offences.
Besides the former prime minister, other chief defendants in the abuse of power case are Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemart.
According to the AEC, Thaksin and his cabinet abused their powers in 2003 by approving the implementation of a digital lottery without parliamentary approval.
Thaksin was overthrown by a coup on Sep 19, 2006, on charges of corruption and dividing the nation. He returned to Thailand Feb 28, after spending 17 months in self-exile, to face another charge that he abused his powers in a 2003 land purchase by his wife.
Thaksin is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to face the land purchase case.