Thaksin did not buy house in Hong Kong, says lawyer

BANGKOK, June 14 (Reuters) Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra did not buy a 27 million dollars townhouse in Hong Kong's most prestigious neighbourhood as reported by various media, his spokesman said today.

''I've checked with Dr Thaksin and he said he didn't buy it,'' lawyer and spokesman Noppadon Pattama told Reuters.

The Standard newspaper reported on Wednesday Thaksin paid about 210 million Hong Kong dollars --41,000 Hong Kong dollars per square foot -- for a 474 sq m house on the Peak, the highest ever unit price in the region's luxury real estate arena.

But Noppadon said the report was groundless.

Telecoms tycoon Thaksin came to power in 2001 promising to improve the lives of the rural poor, but was then ousted in a September military coup.

On Monday, Thailand's army-backed government told the country's banks to freeze bank accounts holding 1.5 billion dollars held by Thaksin and his family.

REUTERS SG RK1022