NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's attorney general issued a subpoena to former Merrill Lynch chief executive John Thain yesterday in a probe into bonuses paid to the firm's employees just days before its takeover by Bank of America Corp .

"The fact that Merrill Lynch appears to have moved up the timetable to pay bonuses before its merger with Bank of America is troubling to say the least and warrants further investigation," Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. Bank of America spokesman Scott Silvestri declined to comment.

Cuomo said his office issued a subpoena seeking testimony from Thain, who was ousted from Bank of America on January 22. Also subpoenaed was Bank of America chief administrative officer J. Steele Alphin, Cuomo said.

Cuomo said his office is conducting its ongoing inquiry into executive compensation practices at companies taking part in the $700 billion financial bailout fund together with the the special inspector general of the federal aid programme.