Thaksin May Face More Arrest Warrants

[Plus]

Another poster plugging Giles book. Welcome.

Could you explain the meaning of its title - "A Coup for the Rich"? Does it mean that all richest business families in Thailand, all affiliated with Thaksin and TRT, staged a coup against themselves?

Giles supposedly academic work is extremely sloppy to blindly rely on.

>>>>>

The Courts had no other legal choice but to issue arrest warrants, and the police will have no other legal choice than to request Thaksin's extradition. That's how justice system works in case the accused doesn't show up.

As for the junta - so what if the UK doesn't extradite Thaksin if that would stop him from sponsoring anti-junta politicians? Thaksin will finally resign from Thai politics, mission accomplished. They can even let the courts to convict him in absentia and confiscate all his assets.

[sriracha john]

Ratcheting things up a notch... jail his partners-in-crime relatives that are not in London....

Thaksin's relatives face arrest warrants

Members of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's family will face arrest warrants if they fail to appear at hearings for charges linked to the controversial sale of Shin Corp, Police Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, said on Wednesday.

He spoke after the Assets Examination Committee legal adviser Montien Charoenphol sought to lay charges against the former PM's wife Pojaman, his son Panthongtae, Bussaba Damapong and Pojaman's secretary Kanchanapa Honghern.

All had failed to testify after being summonsed to appear before a special anti-graft panel.

Major General Amnuay said police would collect evidence, then summons the accused to testify. If the four did not respond, police would issue arrest warrants for them.

- The Nation

[John K]

About 3 months ago I set up Yahoo to send me email every time Thaksin’s name was in the news. Prior to his arrest warrant being announced there was not much change in the tone of the news. After that there has been a gradual slip and more references to his past and the action underway in Thailand. That was even found in the sports news. You can use your own judgment where is will lead.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's daughter fails to show

Pinthongta Shinawatra, daughter of ousted premier Thaksin, postponed a meeting with Assets Scrutiny Committee on Shin Corp share sales on Friday for another month. The ASC allowed Ms Pinthongta to postpone this meeting in June, after she claimed she was preparing for examinations. She rescheduled the meeting to August 24. "Ms Pinthongta was the one who rescheduled the meeting," ASC member Viroj Laohaphan told reporters. "But I think she will use the same tactics as Potjaman (her mother), which is not to show up at the meeting."

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=121082

[John K]

Such wonderful morals Thaksin has to ruin the lives of his own children to protect himself.

[jumnien]

Basically, the junta-controlled ASC has little clout or respect in the international community, or Thailand for that matter. Even for the Shinawatras to acknowledge the military's Assets Scrutiny Committee is a bit of an act of cowardice on their part.

Edited August 25, 2007 by sunrise07

[John K]

Basically, the junta-controlled ASC has little clout or respect in the international community, or Thailand for that matter. Even for the Shinawatras to acknowledge the military's Assets Scrutiny Committee is a bit of an act of cowardice on their part.

Can you provide some evidence of that please. Also don’t forget more or less it was in place prior to the coup working on the same task(s).

Edited August 25, 2007 by John K

[sriracha john]

The tangled web of corruption is becoming clearer...

Thaksin, wife and son may be charged with money laundering

An Assets Scrutiny Committee sub-panel investigating Krung Thai Bank's allocation of a 9.9 Billion baht loan may charge deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra, his wife Potjaman and son Panthongtae with money laundering. The sub-panel looking into alleged corruption related to the loan will meet next Friday to decide whether to press the money laundering charge. If it decides in favour, it will forward the case to the public prosecution. Suspects related to the case may be charged with money laundering, corruption, or both. However, not all members of the Krung Thai Bank's board will be charged as some had proved they did not attend the meeting where the board approved the 9.9 Billion baht loan via Golden Technology Industrial Co for certain politicians and executives of the Krissada Mahanakhon group. It was alleged that the KTB executive board approved the loan on the order of the former premier and his close associates. The money was said to have been transferred to politicians, not to Golden Technology, for a restructuring programme as claimed. Some of the money was allegedly transferred to Panthongtae as well. After the ASC presses charges, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will take over the investigation, the source said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/31Aug2007_news09.php

Edited August 31, 2007 by sriracha john

[Plus]

Is it the infamous case of 40bil in NPLs at Krung Thai that cost Viroj his job and Somkid has lost to Pridiyathorn in power game?

That's 10 out of 40.

I suspect Sondhi Limthamongkul was also involved in some way (he is close to Somkid).

[sriracha john]

Turning the heat a little hotter.... with an additional set of warrants.... as the investigations delve deeper, the more crud they find in the bottom of the barrel...

Thai courts issues new arrest warrants for former PM Thaksin and wife in securities case

BANGKOK, Thailand: A Thai court issued arrest warrants Monday for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife in connection with their alleged violations of stock-trading laws.

It is the second set of warrants issued in the past month against Thaksin, who has been living abroad since he was ousted in a bloodless coup almost a year ago. The other case involved conflict of interest in connection with the sale of Bangkok real estate.

Sunai Manomaiudom, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, announced that Bangkok Criminal Court had issued the warrant at his agency's request.

- Associated Press

[sriracha john]

Urgent: Court approves arrest warrant against Thaksin, wife in SC Assets case

The South Bangkok District Court Monday approved another warrant for the arrest of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Pojaman, in the alleged shares concealment of SC Assets Co Ltd.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

The BBC does its part to provide coverage on one of its residents....

Thaksin Shinawatra at a Manchester City football game

BBC

Thaksin hit by new arrest warrant

A second set of arrest warrants has been issued in Thailand for the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife.

The warrants were issued in relation to a police inquiry into the couple's alleged violations of stock-trading laws, investigators said.

Last month, a court issued warrants for the couple over corruption allegations relating to a land sale. Mr Thaksin has lived abroad since he was deposed in a coup a year ago. He has since bought the Manchester City football club in the UK.

"The court approved an arrest warrant," Pornchai Asavawattanaporn of the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) said.

The DSI is investigating allegations that Mr Thaksin and his wife Pojaman had concealed their assets in a firm, SC Assets Co Ltd. The department said it had sought the warrant as the couple had repeatedly failed to appear in Bangkok to hear the charges.

The couple were served with their first arrest warrant last month by the Supreme Court after failing to appear to hear the first in a series of corruption cases being brought against them. In that case, Mr Thaksin is accused of abusing his power while in office, by helping his wife buy land from a state agency at a favourable price.

Mr Thaksin and his family have denied all allegations of corruption against them, and say the charges are politically motivated.

His lawyer Noppadol Pattama told the BBC recently that Mr Thaksin feared his life would be in danger if he returned to Thailand. "He would consider going back after the next Thailand election and with the return of full democracy," Mr Pattama said.

- BBC

[sriracha john]

while Agence France Presse tells us and the rest of the world even more about the deposed one....

A Thai criminal court on Monday approved a second arrest warrant for ousted and exiled premier Thaksin Shinawatra, seen here 22 August, and his wife over corruption charges stemming from a controversial share sale.

AFP

Second arrest warrant issued for Thaksin

BANGKOK - A Thai criminal court on Monday approved a second arrest warrant for ousted and exiled premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife over corruption charges stemming from a controversial share sale.

"The court approved an arrest warrant" for Thaksin and his wife Pojaman, said Pornchai Asavawattanaporn, the deputy chief of the Justice Ministry's Department of Special Investigations (DSI).

The DSI is investigating the former first couple's alleged fraudulent filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission over a 2003 listing of a property company owned by Thaksin's family.

It said the arrest warrant was issued as the couple repeatedly failed to appear in Bangkok to hear fraud charges. They currently live in Britain, where Thaksin has bought the Manchester City football club.

Thaksin and Pojaman were already slapped with arrest warrants by the Supreme Court in August over separate graft charges over a real estate deal in 2003.

The Supreme Court is set to consider on September 25 whether extradition proceedings should begin in that case.

In the land controversy, Thaksin is accused of illegally influencing the deal to allow his wife to buy prime Bangkok real estate from a government agency for the bargain price of 772 million baht (22 million dollars), about one-third its estimated value.

The couple have been placed on an immigration blacklist, meaning that they can be immediately arrested if they try to enter Thailand.

But Thaksin has repeatedly said he will not return to the kingdom due to fears for his safety under the military-installed government. The couple have denied all the charges against them.

Pichit Cheunban, a lawyer for Thaksin, said Monday he would inform the billionaire ex-premier of the second arrest warrant.

"A team of his lawyers will discuss what to do next," Pichit told reporters.

Thaksin has sued the chief of the DSI, Sunai Manomai-udom, for slander, seeking 43 million dollars in damages. Pichit said Thaksin would not drop the case against Sunai.

- AFP

[Jai Dee]

Court approves arrest warrant against Thaksin, wife in SC Assets case

The South Bangkok District Court Monday approved another warrant for the arrest of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Pojaman, in the alleged shares concealment involving SC Assets Co Ltd.

The court approved the arrest warrant at 11:30 am at the request of Department of Special Investigation.

The DSI sought the arrest warrant after the former prime minister and his wife have ailed to hear formal charges of assets concealment involving SC Asset.

The DSI has announced there was evidence the accused conspired in concealing their shares in SC Asset, a listed company, which is in violation of the Securities and Exchange Act. Involved are four overseas funds - Win Mark, Value Investment Mutual Fund (VIF), Overseas Growth Fund (OGF) and Offshore Dynamic Fund (ODF).

The DSI said its investigating team also found Thaksin could have violated the anti-corruption law and could have intended to conceal the shares when he was the prime minister.

The DSI also suspected that Thaksin had committed actions for control or benefits from the companies.

The DSI said it had "convincing evidence" that Win Mark, VIF, OGF and ODF were nominees of Thaksin and his wife.

Source: The Nation - 03 September 2007

[sriracha john]

Arrest warrant approved for Thaksin

After weeks of deliberation, the Criminal Court has finally decided to issue arrest warrants for Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Potjaman, for their alleged role in an assets concealment case through SC Asset Co., Ltd. The warrants were approved following a proposal from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). According to the DSI, Thaksin and his wife had twice failed to show up for a hearing on the case citing security concerns. The court reached its decision on Monday after questioning two DSI officials. Meanwhile, Thaksin’s lawyer, Pichit Chuenban said after the court announced its decision that his team would hold a meeting before advising Mr Thaksin and his wife on their next move. The SC Asset case stems from a DSI investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) findings that showed Thaksin and his wife had hidden shares in an overseas growth fund and an offshore dynamic fund without having informed the SEC. Their shares in SC Asset and the two firms which served as their nominees gave them full control of the board and the shareholders' meeting.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=121321

[jumnien]

Let's hope the investigation can end, the prosecution begin, and get this man behind bars!

[sriracha john]

SC ASSET ALLEGED SHARE CONCEALMENT

More arrest warrants issued for Thaksin, wife

DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom said he was not sure if stock trading violations are covered by the extradition treaty between Thailand and the United Kingdom, where the couple now live in self-imposed exile. Public prosecutors earlier voiced concerns over a condition in the agreement that may allow for an extradition only if an offence is a punishable offence in both the UK and Thailand. The extradition would take effect if it turns out that such a violation is also an offence in the UK, Mr Sunai said. But if that is not the case, the Thai government may need to ''ask for cooperation'' from London, he added. The Foreign Ministry is reportedly in the process of asking the UK to amend the agreement, which has been in use for a century, he said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/04Sep2007_news03.php

==============================================================================

Are there any Brits in the audience that know if the UK shares these stock disclosure laws?

If, for example, Tony Blair held 22,223,958.07 pounds (the equivalent amount of baht involved) in undeclared share holdings, would he be in trouble?

Edited September 4, 2007 by sriracha john

[John K]

The international media is getting less and less friendly with Thaksin. I imagine thaksin will counter with encouraging the international media to hire more Thai staff. Seeing this story pop in the sport columns is speaking volumes. If his club can’t hold a winning streak the fans may have a piece of him.

[A_Traveller]

Are there any Brits in the audience that know if the UK shares these stock disclosure laws?

If, for example, Tony Blair held 22,223,958.07 pounds (the equivalent amount of baht involved) in undeclared share holdings, would he be in trouble?

In brief yes, there is a Register of Members' Interests under the authority of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, which is published at the commencement of parliament and annually thereafter. Indeed if there is a significant change the Register will be updated at that point in time. Further there is a Register of Interests of Members' Secretaries and Research Assistants.

Failure to declare would probably not be a legal matter, per se, but the survivability of any member of the house found in flagrant breach would be questionable, let alone remain a Minister of the Crown.

As an example an ordinary 'back bench' member's current entry {chosen at random} identifies directorships, outside employment, rental from property, shareholdings and fees paid for television punditry. Further declaration is made of free travel provided. The current PM Gordon Brown's entry covers his sponsorship and donations to causes he supports.

There are the so called Seven non-sins, correctly called The Seven Principles of Public Life to which I've added a link.

Regards

Link to Register Page

The 7

/edit typo +links//

Edited September 4, 2007 by A_Traveller

[sriracha john]

Thank you for all of that.

It seems very akin to American financial disclosure regulations, with the exception being that stock-holdings be held in a blind trust there.

Interesting about "The 7" .... looks like Thaksin didn't meet ANY of, "The Seven Principles of Public Life"

[sriracha john]

Thaksin Not Going to Thailand Soon

LONDON - Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is unlikely to return to Thailand in the near future because he fears for his safety, a statement said Tuesday.

A day after a Thai court issued a new set of arrest warrants for him and his wife, Thaksin's public relations company said the exiled former leader was innocent of any crime.

"This is another politically motivated attack on the reputation of Dr. Thaksin and his family," the Bell Pottinger Group said in the e-mail statement. "Dr. Thaksin maintains his innocence and states that he is unlikely to be able to return to Thailand in the short term because of personal safety issues, his desire not be a cause of division in Thai society and the unlikelihood of a fair trial."

Thaksin, who has been living abroad since he was ousted in a bloodless coup almost a year ago, is being sought by Thai authorities for allegedly violating stock-trading laws and on corruption-related charges.

Thaksin has always denied the allegations.

Thaksin was deposed in September 2006, after the country fell into a political crisis due to mass demonstrations demanding he step down because of alleged corruption and abuse of power.

- Associated Press

================================================================================

Never hurts to drag out the ol' ridiculous "Dr" label in an attempt to improve credibility.....

Bell Pottinger... funny website they have, particularly in regards to Thaksin...

International Communications

We manage the reputations of individuals, organisations and entire countries. If people think well of you then it is simply easier to achieve your objectives.

The task of managing a reputation in the information age requires professional experience and this is perhaps what Bell Pottinger is best known for.

[Tony Clifton]

No mention of returning after the elections anymore?

[sriracha john]

Thaksin may have to face new charges

AEC said to have evidence ex-PM, wife illegally held shares in Shin Corp through nominee Winmark

The Assets Examination Committee will today decide whether to press charges against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of attaining unusual wealth and concealing assets.

The AEC subcommittee investigating allegations of irregularities and vested interest against the ex-PM, led by Klanarong Chantik, planned to suggest to the full meeting today that charges be filed against Thaksin for hiding his wealth, according to a source.

The accusation against Thaksin is that he violated the anti-graft law by failing to report to the National Counter Corruption Commission his shareholding in Shin Corp after becoming prime minister, the source said.

"The subcommittee has found that Thaksin and his wife Pojaman Shinawatra were still holding shares in Shin Corp after he assumed office," the source said.

The AEC would produce evidence to prove the claim and to show that it was not biased against Thaksin.

The source said its evidence would point out that Thaksin and Pojaman held the shares in question through nominees. "This has something to do with Winmark, a company registered in the British Virgins Islands," said the source, referring to Thaksin's offshore firm.

AEC secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi gave a hint last Friday that there would be big news about Thaksin this week.

According to another source, it was likely that the AEC would decide whether to order more of Thaksin's assets to be frozen, possibly as much as 50 Billion Baht, as its subcommittee found grounds to believe that the deposed premier was "unusually rich".

In a related development, AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said yesterday the panel would try to find a solution to the translation problem of the CTX scanner contract as the Foreign Ministry had yet to translate more than 1,400 pages of documents, citing a shortage of time and translators.

The AEC needed the contract as part of the evidence to incriminate Thaksin and his Cabinet over the alleged corruption in the scanner purchase.

Sak said AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem had already endorsed a request to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to order the Foreign Ministry to translate the documents. The AEC could not hire a private company to translate the highly confidential contract as it might be leaked to the public.

He said the AEC had the right to check the overseas assets of Thaksin.

- The Nation

[John K]

Interesting about the contract not being in Thai. This is obviously one of the 60-20-20 things saying only contacts in Thai are valid.

Certainly this money is very clear and easy to prove with the paper trail. Does not look like a good week ahead for Thaksin.

[brahmburgers]

it's no stretch of the imagination, for anyone remotely acquainted with Thaksin and his ilk, to percieve that they're guilty of the latest charges and much more. The junta doesn't expect the rats to return. Indeed it's throwing all these legal papers at them TO KEEP THEM AWAY! Thaksin returning would be a nightmare for all his opponents, in effect: martyrizing him. The entire front sections of newspapers would drivel on endlessly about his every nuance - which they're nearly doing now.

Thaksin won't return unless/until his boys are firmly back in power - which may or may not happen. Either way, he doesn't give a ######. Thaksin's holding the cards as well as the money bags. Other than a few annoyances, like commenting about his Swiss Bank accounts, and then being told by his handlers that Swiss Bank Account holders should NEVER mention such things. Then his handlers had to do double back flips for damage control - and it worked! Ask any dummy on the streets of Thailand and they'll probably tell you that Thaksin doesn't have numbered bank accounts - even though a week earlier they wouldn't have known such things existed.

If you look at all the major statements Thaksin has made - both during his reign as PM and afterwards - you'll see that nearly all were lies. So, in case you need help in gauging the veracity of what he utters, here's a rule of thumb: EVERY TIME HE MAKES A STRONG ASSERTION, IT'S A LIE.

simplistic, but true - just follow the bouncing ball.

[sriracha john]

The legal difficulties of the deposed one worsen....

ASC DECIDES TO CHARGE THAKSIN, WIFE FOR ASSETS CONCEALMENT

Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) has resolved to take legal action within seven days against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman for allegedly concealing their assets. The ASC, after long deliberations, resolved Monday evening to endorse an ASC sub-committee finding that both Thaksin and wife used nominees to conceal their shares in Shin Corp, which was considered violating the constitution and the National Counter Corruption Act, according to ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang. "Thaksin and Pojaman stated they had already divested Shin Corp shares to their family members before holding key political positions, but actually we found out that they just transferred shares to their children using Ample Rich as a nominee."

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=121504

[sriracha john]

Thaksin to face music on concealing shares charges

The Assets Examination Committee yesterday decided to press charges against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for attaining unusual wealth and concealing assets by holding Shin Corp shares through nominees, AEC secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi said.

Kaewsan said Thaksin would be charged with breaching the Constitution and breaking the National Counter Corruption Act that bans Cabinet ministers from holding shares and concessions. An AEC panel unearthed evidence to prove that Thaksin held Shin Corp shares through Ample Rich and Win Mark.

According to the evidence submitted by Kanchanapa Honghern, an account of Ample Rich opened with UBS Singapore Bank on June 11, 1999, indicated that Thaksin was the sole authorised director to withdraw the 329 million shares deposited with the bank.

Although Thaksin claimed he sold the shares to his children Panthongtae and Pinthongta on June 29, 2005, he continued to be the sole authorised director. During his term from 2001-2005, Thaksin thus broke the Provision 100 (3) of the National Counter Corruption Law.

The AEC also found that since 1999, Thaksin concealed 55 million Shin Corp shares in the account of Win Mark, which deposited the shares with Vicker which later transferred 54 million to UBS Singapore.

Kaewsan said the AEC found evidence which showed that the dividends from Shin Corp before being sold to Temasek, which were paid to Panthongtae and Pinthongta as well as his sister Yingluck, all went to Pojaman's accounts. "This proves that the owners of Ample Rich and Win Mark are Thaksin and Pojaman,'' Kaewsan said.

The AEC also learnt that before Shin Corp sale to Temasek, Win Mark committed insider trading by using insider information and bought 58 million shares from small shareholders at Bt39 each and sold 74 million shares to Temasek in a tender offer at Bt49.25 per share. This means the company made Bt500 million from insider information, Kaewsan said.

"The Securities and Exchange Commission must take responsibility for failure to find out about the offence after investigation,'' he said.

The AEC will ask the SEC to further investigate over the point of insider trading, he said.

Of the Bt3.5 billion that Win Mark gained from the Shin Corp share sale, Bt500 million was illegally earned through insider trading and was deposited abroad, Kaewsan said.

The AEC will further investigate whether the money that Thaksin used in buying Manchester City Football Club was legally earned.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

The convoluted web of criminal deception comes unraveled...

Thaksin, wife to be hit with new Shin Corp share charges

The ASC said it had ''credible evidence'' that some Shin Corp shares supposedly sold and transferred to Thaksin's children, relatives and Ample Rich Investments Co from 2001 to 2005 actually remained under his control. Of the total 49.6% Shin Corp stake, Thaksin distributed 22.4% to Ample Rich, his son Panthongtae and his younger sister Yingluck immediately before entering politics in 2001. His son later sold the shares to Thaksin's daughter Pinthongta. Thaksin's wife transferred her holding, 27.2%, to Panthongtae and her brother Bannapot Damapong in the same year. Those nominee holders then sold the total 49.6% stake to Singapore's Temasek Holdings in 2006. Upon taking the PM, Thaksin informed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that he had already sold Ample Rich to his son. But a registered certificate of the firm, provided to the ASC by Singapore's UBS AG, specifies that Thaksin was Ample Rich's authorised signatory from 1999 to 2005, meaning he was also the owner of the 11.2% stake of Shin Corp shares held by Ample Rich at that time, Mr Kaewsan said. A filing form, which UBS submitted to the SEC, also indicates that the owner of Ample Rich and Win Mark Co was the same person, Thaksin, he said. The investigators then found out Win Mark owned 55 million ''secret'' shares of Shin Corp through nominees. Win Mark was also found to have violated insider trading regulations a week before the Temasek takeover, reaping a 500-million-baht profit, Mr Kaewsan said.

Mr Kaewsan said the ASC reached a resolution that it would file charges against Mr Thaksin and his wife over the case within a week for violating the anti-corruption law, which stipulates up to three years' jail as punishment.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/11Sep2007_news02.php

[sriracha john]

Thaksin lawyer denies charges

Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, accused Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) of using partial information to attack Thaksin's family. The accusation came after the ASC agreed on Monday to file additional criminal charges against Thaksin and his wife Potjaman after acquiring new evidence indicating the couple failed to declare shares they held in Shin Corp during Thaksin's time in office. The ASC's decision was based on acquired information that some Shin Corp shares supposedly sold and transferred to Thaksin's children, relatives and Ample Rich Investments Co from 2001 to 2005 actually remained under his control. He claimed Thaksin was not Ample Rich's authorised signatory after 1999, which contradicted to ASC's acquired information from Singapore's UBS AG that stated that he was the company's signatory from 1999 to 2005.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=121533

[sriracha john]

This is how to try and deal with corruption.... perhaps Thailand can learn from it's ASEAN brothers....

Philippines' Ex-President Estrada gets life sentence

MANILA (Reuters) - Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday after an anti-graft court found him guilty of plunder and barred him from holding public office again.

The 70-year-old movie star, who was ousted from power in an army-backed revolt in 2001, remained defiant after sentencing.