Wissanu’s comment came a day after Yingluck tearfully said that life had been “extremely difficult” for her this year due to the legal actions pursued against her.

Earlier, the Finance Ministry had issued an executive order holding Yingluck responsible for Bt35.7 billion, or 20 per cent, of the losses arising from her government’s corruption-plagued rice-pledging scheme.

Yingluck later petitioned the Administrative Court seeking an order to repeal the executive order.

Wissanu said that the asset seizure could be done before the court issued a verdict on Yingluck’s petition. Also, the court had yet to issue the injunction sought by Yingluck.

“Since the authorities involved could not locate her assets, they had to suspend their operations,” he said. “They didn’t know where to start. And they couldn’t find any assets that belonged to her.”