Thaksin still in Man City deal despite asset freeze

BANGKOK, June 12 (Reuters) Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is still keen to buy English Premier League soccer team Manchester City, despite an order to freeze his assets in Thailand, his lawyer said today.

''We are still pursuing the deal,'' lawyer Noppadon Pattama told Reuters. ''We hope the seller will appreciate the recent development in Thailand and realise that Dr Thaksin is willing to cooperate with them fully.'' Thailand's army-backed government told Thai banks today to freeze 21 bank accounts with assets worth 52.9 billion baht held by Thaksin and his immediately family.

The announcement by the Asset Examination Committee (AEC), set up after a September coup against Thaksin, followed months of investigations into alleged corruption during his five years in office.

No charges have been filed in court, but the AEC said in a statement it had come to the conclusion that ''Thaksin and his cronies had been corrupt and committed wrongdoings''.

Noppadon said the asset freeze might affect how the takeover, estimated by Thai newspapers at 100 million pounds is financed.

''In light of the decision by the AEC to freeze his assets, we might have to re-adjust the situation regarding the funds.

But we hope that the deal will be successful,'' he said.

The English soccer club told the London Stock Exchange yesterday they were in talks with Thaksin's advisers to ''confirm the implications of these developments in respect of their client's interest in potentially making an offer for the company''.

Billionaire telecoms tycoon Thaksin, who failed in his efforts to buy City's Premier League rivals Liverpool for 65 million pounds three years ago, lives in London.

REUTERS TB DS1643