[JURIST] Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] filed a lawsuit Thursday against Thailand's Assets Examination Committee (AEC) [Wikipedia backgrounder] for its seizure of Thaksin's family assets [JURIST report], demanding that the AEC terminate its freeze of approximately $2.1 billion in assets and seeking an additional $1.7 billion in compensation. AEC chairman Nam Yumyaem expressed indifference to the lawsuit, saying that Thaksin has in the past filed similar suits against the AEC, which have been rejected by Thai courts.

Thaksin, who has been living in exile since his ouster in a September 2006 military coup [JURIST report], is currently facing corruption charges [JURIST report], which are scheduled to be heard [JURIST report] by the Thai Supreme Court on August 14. Thaksin has been ordered by the high court to appear, but has indicated that he will not return to Thailand, citing concerns for his personal safety and doubts on whether he will receive a fair trial [JURIST report]. In February, the AEC recommended that charges be brought [JURIST report] against Thaksin's wife Pojamarn and other members of his family. AP has more.