BANGKOK Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai Wednesday denied he was behind an anti-graft agency investigation into controversial share transfers by his archrival Thaksin Shinawatra, AFP said.
"The government has nothing to do with the National Counter Corruption Committee (NCCC). I do not want to criticize anything," he said.
"If you have any questions you can ask the NCCC. The government has no right to do anything or propose anything as the NCCC is an independent and politician-free agency," he said.
Members of Chuan's ruling Democrat Party have been vocal in calling for an NCCC probe of tycoon Thaksin, leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party and favorite to become Thailand's next prime minister.
The probe will focus on determining whether Thaksin had tried to conceal his actual assets when he was a cabinet minister in 1994 and 1997.
Under the Constitution, cabinet ministers are limited to a five percent stake in any company and are prohibited from business dealings which could cause a conflict of interest.
Thaksin repeated Wednesday he had done nothing wrong.
"As of today I am not shaken (by the NCCC investigation)," he said.
"I will work to my full ability and I don't want anything from my country, not even a single satang (cent)," he said at a news conference.
NCCC Chairman Ophars Arunin said he would name a panel, either on Thursday or next week, to check Thaksin's asset declarations which he submitted before and after he was appointed deputy prime minister in late 1997.