Court orders Thaksin arrest in new trial against former PM

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

EXILED EX-PREMIER ACCUSED OF MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

THAILAND’S TOP court yesterday issued an arrest warrant for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra relating to policy executed by his government that was deemed to benefit his family business.

 

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders started its trial in the case under a new law on criminal procedures relating to cases against politicians. The new law allows trials in absentia against politicians that have been suspended because the defendants have fled the country. 

 

Thaksin was sued by public prosecutors in 2008 on charges of malfeasance, dereliction of duty and violating the anti-corruption law. The case stemmed from his government’s decision to allow companies with telecoms concessions to pay excise tax instead of concession fees, which caused lost revenue of Bt66 billion to the relevant state agencies.

 

The Shinawatra family’s business at that time, Shin Corporation, was deemed to be one of the telecoms firms benefiting from the policy.

 

 

Thaksin, 69, fled the country the same year and has since lived in self-imposed exile overseas. Under the old law, the legal cases against him were suspended pending his arrest but under the new law passed last year, the court is empowered to try cases in the absence of fugitive politicians three months after an arrest warrant is issued following their escape. 

 

Under the new law, the defendants have the right to appoint lawyers to act on their behalf and they can get involved in defending themselves at any time during the trial.

 

However, neither Thaksin nor his lawyer was present at the court yesterday and he did not appoint anyone to act on his behalf, so only the prosecution was present in court.

 

Copies of the arrest warrant and the indictment had been posted at Thaksin’s house in the Charoen Sanitwong area of Bangkok, notifying him of the start of the trial yesterday.

 

The court issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin after no representatives from the defence appeared in court yesterday. The court also assigned public prosecutors to seek Thaksin’s arrest and to give monthly updates to the court on their progress.

 

The court concluded the hearing by instructing both sides to return on July 10 to examine the evidence and list of witnesses.

 

There are also three other cases against Thaksin that are being reviewed in his absence due to the new law. They involve alleged irregularities regarding a loan from the state-run Krungthai Bank to a property firm, a loan from the state-run Export-Import Bank to Myanmar and a Thaksin government project to offer state lottery bets similar to those of underground lottery schemes.

 

In their lawsuit filed against Thaksin, public prosecutors also accused him of acting in conflict of interest while serving as prime minister between 2001 and 2006, in addition to malfeasance and negligence. 

 

The lawsuit noted Thaksin’s government exempted his satellite business from paying excise tax even though it was part of the telecoms sector. The exemption also benefited his family’s Shin Corp.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30340338

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-07

What!!! Another arrest warrant, HaHa,   see what good that will do another waist of paper.

This is political theater. 

 

Putting a de facto leader of one of the main opposition groups on trial ahead of a promised election is nothing more than political theater.

 

Is Thaksin guilty of many things? Almost certainly. Is this "trial" designed to adjudicate the question of innocence or guilt in a fair and unbiased manner? Well, no.

 

Honestly, I think this just helps Thaksin. He isn't coming back, and so putting him on trial under military rule just heightens his image and adds to his popularity; being put on trial (again) by the military is a badge of honour for many.

 

This is "shooting yourself in the foot 101". What a waste of time and resources...

 

So just as the statute of limitations starts to kick in for some warrants, some new ones are created.

 

Who would have thought.

If found guilty, go after his money and possessions in the country that are still under his name,

(fat chance of that) if you take their money, that's what hurt them the most and no matter how

money they have.....

at least the political refugee is welcome to stay safe, wherever else in the world he wants!

... because he's welcomed to...

The mammoth in the room must look like a mountain to the junta right now. 

5 minutes ago, Thailand said:

The mammoth in the room must look like a mountain to the junta right now. 

 

but they make him out to be the 'Shame of the Jungle'

Oh wow!

 

A new trial.

 

Another exciting day in Shangri-La

 

"T'was brillig and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe..."

42 minutes ago, ezzra said:

If found guilty, go after his money and possessions in the country that are still under his name,

(fat chance of that) if you take their money, that's what hurt them the most and no matter how

money they have.....

"If found guilty..."

 

"...If..."  

 

Respectfully, do you think there is a chance he will be found 'not guilty'?

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"If found guilty..."

 

"...If..."  

 

 

 

To borrow from Elvis..

 

"We're caught in a rut..

We can't get out..

Because we love you too much,baby..

 

Why can't you see.."

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Court orders Thaksin arrest in new trial against former PM

Will Prayut be exempted after stepping down ???

The new chapter in the Thaksin soap opera....Red Bull killer is not any more interesting or?

12 minutes ago, mentalcolonization said:

Will Prayut be exempted after stepping down ???

I understand that has been put in place yes...

Thaksin is smarter than Prayut. That's all.

1 minute ago, alant said:

I understand that has been put in place yes...

Indeed.

 

He an' all his splendid supporters have been given a blanket approval until the seventh generation passeth.

An arrest warrant for Thaksin?

 

I'm sure the British Government will be collating the extradition papers right now and the Montenegro will be taking steps to forfeit his passport.

 

Unless the above Governments don't waste time and money on lost causes.

Whilst there is no doubt during the TS aligned Governments there was plenty of nefarious activity, the behavior of the courts, independent agencies, investigative bodies have been so ineffective and selective over the years (if you are being generous) that i believe most people have simply lost respect for them or have any faith in judgements they make.

 

The DSI, police, NACC to name a few have all been mired in suspicious activity which we see ongoing daily examples of.

 

It is difficult to see how they can rescue their reputation from here, and its a pretty serious position when any and every judgement they make would be shrouded in suspicion.

Can use the arrest warrant to wrap their Fukishima fish

3 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

So just as the statute of limitations starts to kick in for some warrants, some new ones are created.

 

Who would have thought.

Hope something like this can be applied to the speedy Red Bull guy .......

Have to say that the squeaky clean junta are not too clever with their strategy for getting people to forget the boogie man.

6 minutes ago, Denim said:

Have to say that the squeaky clean junta are not too clever with their strategy for getting people to forget the boogie man.

How can you possibly say that?

 

They are a top notch outfit where only the best and brightest need apply and..please remember.."What's good for them is good enough for you.."

Just showboating A waste of taxpayers  time and money

Free publicity for Thaksin. It's quite amusing see the Junta pretending they want to bring him to Thailand

Another Thaksin episode made out of nothing to try and keep the Junta's failings low key. Isn't it about time everyone gave up on the Thaksin conspiricy including the media and Thai Visa. Despite all the accusations against Mr. Thaksin and his family there has never been one shred of indisputable evidence to prove it all beyond doubt.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

under the new law passed last year, the court is empowered to try cases in the absence of fugitive politicians

This just reinforces any British political refugee application by Yingluck that the Thai military regime seeks to remove its political foes both past and present.

57 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Whilst there is no doubt during the TS aligned Governments there was plenty of nefarious activity, the behavior of the courts, independent agencies, investigative bodies have been so ineffective and selective over the years (if you are being generous) that i believe most people have simply lost respect for them or have any faith in judgements they make.

 

The DSI, police, NACC to name a few have all been mired in suspicious activity which we see ongoing daily examples of.

 

It is difficult to see how they can rescue their reputation from here, and its a pretty serious position when any and every judgement they make would be shrouded in suspicion.

I don't think people had any respect or faith in the first place. Things were no different when TS aligned governments were in office, regarding, "behavior of the courts, independent agencies, investigative bodies, DSI, police, NACC". All malleable and open to abuse then. Plenty of examples of that. All malleable and open to abuse now. Plenty of examples of that too.

 

So what to do? Don't bother putting anyone on trial until things change?

1 minute ago, rixalex said:

I don't think people had any respect or faith in the first place. Things were no different when TS aligned governments were in office, regarding, "behavior of the courts, independent agencies, investigative bodies, DSI, police, NACC". All malleable and open to abuse then. Plenty of examples of that. All malleable and open to abuse now. Plenty of examples of that too.

 

So what to do? Don't bother putting anyone on trial until things change?

Thaksin certainly abused the judicial system and its agencies (mostly for personal aggrandizement) but the crucial distinction between that time and subsequently was the mobilization of courts/agencies for political ends, as part of the arsenal to frustrate or destroy popular democracy.It is hopelessly naive to suggest that its just a matter of - "what goes on now went on then".

 

As to the latest charge it's simply the old order's desperate attempt to keep the bogeyman in the public eye - as though that could save them.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

THAILAND’S TOP court yesterday issued an arrest warrant

who cares? Even Thaksin wouldn't be bothered y this sheet (shit) of paper. But not to lose face it had to be done. However wasted time.