The Associated Press
Monday, August 13, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand: A Thai judge issued arrest warrants Tuesday for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife in connection with a corruption case against the couple.
Supreme Court Judge Tonglor Choam-ngam said the court "has reason to believe that they are evading prosecution" in connection with the case involving the sale of a prime piece of Bangkok real estate in 2003 when Thaksin was prime minister.
Thaksin was overthrown by a coup d'etat in September last year after popular demonstrations calling for him to step down because of alleged corruption and abuse of power.
Arrest warrant for Thaksin approved
Manchester City owner faces corruption charges
{ Guardian Unlimited }
Thailand's supreme court has approved a prosecution request to issue arrest warrants for the Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on corruption charges. The former Thai prime minister, who has been living in self-imposed exile in England, took over City in the summer and installed Sven-Goran Eriksson as manager.
The Thai attorney general issued the warrant for Thaksin and his wife Pojamarn, in connection with corruption charges over a controversial land purchase deal in Bangkok. The first hearing on the case started today and the defendants' lawyers asked for the hearing to be indefinitely delayed on grounds that Thaksin and his wife felt it was unsafe for them to travel to Thailand
A spokesman for Thaksin claimed the move was politically-motivated. "No doubt this latest publicity stunt by the military government has nothing to do with the referendum on the constitution taking place later this week," he said.
Thai judge issues arrest warrants for ousted PM Thaksin
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Thai judge issues arrest warrants for ousted PM Thaksin
"I don't often agree with the RSPCA as i believe it is an animals duty to be on my plate at supper time"
Thai immigration blacklists Thaksin and wife
BANGKOK: Thai authorities on Thursday placed ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on an immigration blacklist, ordering their immediate arrest if they try to enter the country, police said.
The order came two days after the Supreme Court issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and his wife Pojaman for failing to obey a summons to appear before judges to hear corruption charges.
Thaksin, who has settled in Britain where he has taken over Premiership football club Manchester City since being toppled in a coup last year, is under fire along with his wife Pojaman for allegedly snapping up prime Bangkok real estate at bargain prices.
"The names of Thaksin and his wife are now on the Thai immigration blacklist because they are suspects in a criminal case," acting national police chief Sereepisut Taemeeyaves told reporters after a meeting with prosecutors.
"If he and his wife enter Thailand at any checkpoint, they will be arrested unless they surrender themselves to police first," he added.
Thaksin and Pojaman are each charged with two violations of anti-corruption laws. Each could be jailed for up to 13 years and face a fine of up to 200,000 baht (6,250 dollars) if convicted.
Thaksin is accused of illegally influencing a deal in 2003 to allow Pojaman to buy prime Bangkok real estate from a government agency for the bargain price of 772 million baht (22.7 million US dollars), about one-third its estimated value.
Both have denied the charges, but have refused to return to Thailand to defend themselves in court, saying they fear for their safety under the military-installed government.
Sereepisut insisted police would guarantee his safety if he returned to the kingdom.
"I want to tell Thaksin and his wife that police will do our utmost to guarantee their safety. They shouldn't fear for their lives," he said.
The Supreme Court has given Thaksin and Pojaman until September 25 to turn themselves into police. If they fail to appear, prosecutors could file an extradition request with Britain.
Britain and Thailand have an extradition treaty, but the process is often lengthy and would require British courts to approve the request.
The outcome of the case against Thaksin could affect his ownership of Manchester City. If he were convicted, the English Premier League could reconsider whether he is still a "fit and proper" owner.
Source: Channel News Asia
BANGKOK: Thai authorities on Thursday placed ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on an immigration blacklist, ordering their immediate arrest if they try to enter the country, police said.
The order came two days after the Supreme Court issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and his wife Pojaman for failing to obey a summons to appear before judges to hear corruption charges.
Thaksin, who has settled in Britain where he has taken over Premiership football club Manchester City since being toppled in a coup last year, is under fire along with his wife Pojaman for allegedly snapping up prime Bangkok real estate at bargain prices.
"The names of Thaksin and his wife are now on the Thai immigration blacklist because they are suspects in a criminal case," acting national police chief Sereepisut Taemeeyaves told reporters after a meeting with prosecutors.
"If he and his wife enter Thailand at any checkpoint, they will be arrested unless they surrender themselves to police first," he added.
Thaksin and Pojaman are each charged with two violations of anti-corruption laws. Each could be jailed for up to 13 years and face a fine of up to 200,000 baht (6,250 dollars) if convicted.
Thaksin is accused of illegally influencing a deal in 2003 to allow Pojaman to buy prime Bangkok real estate from a government agency for the bargain price of 772 million baht (22.7 million US dollars), about one-third its estimated value.
Both have denied the charges, but have refused to return to Thailand to defend themselves in court, saying they fear for their safety under the military-installed government.
Sereepisut insisted police would guarantee his safety if he returned to the kingdom.
"I want to tell Thaksin and his wife that police will do our utmost to guarantee their safety. They shouldn't fear for their lives," he said.
The Supreme Court has given Thaksin and Pojaman until September 25 to turn themselves into police. If they fail to appear, prosecutors could file an extradition request with Britain.
Britain and Thailand have an extradition treaty, but the process is often lengthy and would require British courts to approve the request.
The outcome of the case against Thaksin could affect his ownership of Manchester City. If he were convicted, the English Premier League could reconsider whether he is still a "fit and proper" owner.
Source: Channel News Asia
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
I reckon the most accurate thing I read about this whole affair was the idea that Thailand simply dosn't want Thaksin back (sorry, no source). Hence, "you'll be arrested etc etc".
The UK is never going to deport him whilst the country is undemocratic and probably won't even if there are elections soon.
The UK is never going to deport him whilst the country is undemocratic and probably won't even if there are elections soon.
lomuamart wrote:I reckon the most accurate thing I read about this whole affair was the idea that Thailand simply dosn't want Thaksin back (sorry, no source). Hence, "you'll be arrested etc etc".
The UK is never going to deport him whilst Thailand is undemocratic and probably won't even if there are elections soon.
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