Prosecutors Vow To Arrest Thaksin Upon His Return To Thailand

[sriracha john]

First printed photo of Pojaman today...

Manager Online

[sriracha john]

Thai ex-PM Thaksin's wife freed on bail after brief court hearing

BANGKOK - The wife of Thailand's ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra was released on bail Tuesday, after she returned to the kingdom to defend corruption charges against her, the Supreme Court said in a statement.

Pojaman Shinawatra was released on bail of five million baht (US$149,000), and ordered not to leave the country without the court's permission, said the statement issued after a hearing that lasted less than an hour.

The court also set January 23 as the opening date for her trial on charges of using her husband's political influence to buy prime Bangkok real estate from a government agency at one-third its estimated value.

- AFP

[sriracha john]

Wife of ex-Thai PM Thaksin arrested on corruption charges

BANGKOK: The wife of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was arrested after she returned to Thailand on Tuesday to face corruption charges that could put her behind bars for 20 years, police said.

Police presented Pojamarn Shinawatra with an arrest warrant at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport that went into effect after she signed it, said police Major General Thaweesak Toochinda.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin, who was ousted in a September 2006 military coup, saw his wife off earlier Tuesday in Hong Kong.

Pojamarn, wearing dark sunglasses and a black suit, was taken to the supreme court, where she smiled as she passed a crowd of journalists, escorted by her legal team and police.

An anti-corruption law bars prime ministers or their spouses from doing business with government agencies.

The supreme court issued warrants in August for Thaksin and his wife on charges of conflict of interest and malfeasance. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Pichit said Pojamarn would proceed to another court later on Tuesday to face charges related to illegal stock dealing.

The lawyer declined to talk about Thaksin, saying he was only charged with handling the case against Pojamarn.

- The Times of India

Edited January 8, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

I suppose it's a good news, bad news sort of situation for Thaksin...

The bad news...

Pojamarn Shinawatra, wife of ousted premier, arrives at court house to face graft charges on Tuesday.

The good news...

There's always his "good friend" Lydia to keep him company in Hong Kong and console him during the arduous marital separation.

[Jai Dee]

Pojaman arrives at DSI to face another charge

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra arrived at Department of Special Investigation to defend charge of illegal stock dealing.

Pojaman, wife of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, arrived at about noon and reportedly prepared Bt1 million to lodge a bail.

Pojaman returned from Hong Kong to Thailand on Tuesday morning. She was earlier freed on Bt5-million bail on corruption charges over purchase of Ratchadapisek land.

Source: The Nation - 08 January 2008

[LeungKen]

What do you think of a bloke who sends his wife for a swim to check out what the water is like first ?

[Plus]

There could be a rift emerging there. Surely Thaksin can get lots of useful information from Pojamarn's experience, but it also looks like she is doing it more for herself and for her family than for her husband.

Pojamarn is doing what any other normal Thai would do - apologise, resolve all the conflicts, and get alone with everybody. What Thaksin's end game plan is unclear. He has been badly beaten but he still refuses to admit defeat. Throwing armies of village supporters at his "enemies" only complicates his situation. He already passed the point of no return in politics, next he will kiss goodbye to his assets, then he will be forced to give up his life, but no Thai ever had gone that far.

[Jai Dee]

Pojaman freed on bail on the second charge

Police freed on bail Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of ousted prime minister, who was accused of illegal stock dealing.

Granting Bt1 million bail, police banned Pojaman from leaving the country without permission.

Pojaman who returned from Hong Kong Tuesday morning pledged not guilty for the charge concerning SC Assets Corporation.

Source: The Nation - 08 January 2008

[hammered]

There could be a rift emerging there. Surely Thaksin can get lots of useful information from Pojamarn's experience, but it also looks like she is doing it more for herself and for her family than for her husband.

Pojamarn is doing what any other normal Thai would do - apologise, resolve all the conflicts, and get alone with everybody. What Thaksin's end game plan is unclear. He has been badly beaten but he still refuses to admit defeat. Throwing armies of village supporters at his "enemies" only complicates his situation. He already passed the point of no return in politics, next he will kiss goodbye to his assets, then he will be forced to give up his life, but no Thai ever had gone that far.

Mr. Thaksin's proxy party has just come within a few seats of an overall majority in an election. This hardly constitutes a bad beating. That this proxy party will form the core of the next government unless there eis anything short of a court decision or massive red carding is undeniable. Needless to say either of the ways to keep it from power would be heavily criticized both locally and internationally if employed and hence probably wont. Right now it is his opponents in the military etc who are worried about what the PPP being in power will mean rather than Mr. Thaksin. It is now highly unlikely he will lose most of his assets, which even when frozen the asset committee said could be released later if courts saw fit.

Personally I have little time for the square faced one and have been a critic of his on here for years. However, I cannot agree that he has been badly beaten or actually even beaten at all (judging by what I read int eh international press) and I also cannot deny the Thai people have within their own constitutional system elected his proxies to power even. Maybe if the Juntas constitutional drafters had saw fit to install proportional representation rather than a constituency based system the lie of the land would be different. However, they didn't and even if the Dems got the same number of votes as the PPP that remains irrelevant as the system chosen by the military installed geriatric government didn't measure seats that way. The system has to be accepted whether we like it or not. Equally, of course the judicial system should be allowed o come to completion on the Thaksin et al cases, and would guess it probably will for those already in court although those not yet their may well find few investigators to take further.

As for the divided political situation, my own opinion is that there should be a PPP-Dem coalition to allow for some reconciliation and for politicians to be able to take over the mantle of running the country again in a united way and apart from military involvement. This is quite unlikely also to happen, but then again it is up to the Thai people - all of them - to decide on how they wish to move their country. At least now we have an indication even if this may lead to potential rifts and conflicts. Thailand will not be the first country to see divisions in its democratic development. The US and UK saw long civil wars in theirs. To date Thailand has not descended to these depths.

[Prakanong]

5 million bail for a white collar crime but free bail for a cold blooded murderer in Pai - what a society and what values it has!

[chownah]

What do you think of a bloke who sends his wife for a swim to check out what the water is like first ?

What are you talking about?

[Prakanong]

What do you think of a bloke who sends his wife for a swim to check out what the water is like first ?

What are you talking about?

Its their assumption Taksin is sending his wife to test the water regarding what could happen to him and what reception he will get.

Its the juntaista's blinded by hatred usual misguided vitriol.

Most of them rolled up to thailand post 2000 and suddenly they are experts on the thai political scene and all else that goes with it.

[Jai Dee]

Ex-PM explains why his wife returns to Thailand

Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra discloses that his wife, Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra, has returned to Thailand in order to perform three duties.

Following Khunying Potjaman's arrival to Thailand, Dr. Thaksin says his wife, as a representative of his family, will join the mourning period over the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana with the Thai people nationwide.

The ousted Prime Minister says his wife also wants to face all her charges under proper legal procedures. In addition, he says she wants to spend more time with her children closely.

Dr. Thaksin also says he will return to Thailand once the time is appropriate.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 January 2008

[Jai Dee]

Pojaman to sign book of condolence of HRH Princess Galyani

Wife of ousted prime minister will sign book of condolence of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana in the afternoon.

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra returned home from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning to face charges of corruption and illegal stock dealing. She was granted bails on both charges.

Informed source said she will travel to Saha Thai Samakhom Pavillion in the late afternoon to sign condolence book for the princess.

Source: The Nation - 08 January 2008

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin Says He Will Wait To Return To Thailand

Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Tuesday that he would eventually join his wife in Thailand to prove their innocence in court, once the political situation settles following last month's polls.

"I have long said that I will return to Thailand to prove my innocence and to fight for justice, but I do not want to trigger any conflicts that would worsen the situation," Thaksin said in a statement on his Web site. "I want to reassure you that when the appropriate time comes, I will return to Thailand to prove the innocence of myself and my family."

Thaksin, who has lived in exile since the military toppled his government in September 2006, issued the statement after his wife Pojaman returned to Bangkok to defend herself against corruption charges.

She arrived as Thaksin's allies in the People Power Party are facing dozens of vote fraud complaints following last month's general elections, in which they finished just short of a majority in parliament.

Police escorted Pojaman to the Supreme Court immediately after she arrived on a flight from Hong Kong.

She was released after posting bail in two cases accusing her of corruption in a property deal and a fraudulent securities filing.

Thaksin also faces charges in both cases, and military-appointed investigators are still examining a raft of other complaints against him.

Thaksin said his wife had also returned to Thailand to pay respects to the late Princess Galyani, the sister of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died on Jan. 2.

"Pojaman is returning because the Thai people are mourning the loss of the princess," Thaksin said.

"Pojaman, as a loyal subject of the king, wanted to return to Thailand to live her private life as a mother. She is returning to Thailand to be close to our children," he added.

Source: AFP - 08 January 2008

[younghusband]

There could be a rift emerging there. Surely Thaksin can get lots of useful information from Pojamarn's experience, but it also looks like she is doing it more for herself and for her family than for her husband.

Pojamarn is doing what any other normal Thai would do - apologise, resolve all the conflicts, and get alone with everybody. What Thaksin's end game plan is unclear. He has been badly beaten but he still refuses to admit defeat. Throwing armies of village supporters at his "enemies" only complicates his situation. He already passed the point of no return in politics, next he will kiss goodbye to his assets, then he will be forced to give up his life, but no Thai ever had gone that far.

Well that's your view which though idiosyncratic you are obviously entitled to (though I don't understand the bit about giving up his life).To me and to I suspect many others Thaksin looks like a winner whose position is strengthening all the time.His enemies are in confusion and time is not on their side.We'll never agree so let's just see how events pan out.

[hammered]

Excellent politics in what is said in some of the Shin family statements especially when bearing in mind much international media analysis of the current situation.

[sriracha john]

People shouting out a Shinawatra...

Shades of:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p5HOuTIVuw

Anti-Thaksin ~ Silom

A woman yells at supporters of Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of Thaksin, in front of the Supreme Court building on Tuesday. She claimed a close aide of Thaksin cheated her.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's wife: partner in the empire

Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra's wife Pojaman, who has returned to Bangkok to face corruption charges, is the silent partner in her husband's political and corporate interests.

Described by Thaksin as his conscience and the only person he completely trusts, Pojaman built up a fortune guiding his decision-making, but now risks prison over their lucrative business dealings.

Thaksin, 58, has lived in self-imposed exile abroad since the military toppled his government in September 2006, and Pojaman, 51, has spent the last six months with her husband before she returned to Thailand alone on Tuesday to face the charges.

Always perfectly coiffed and dressed in sharp tailored suits, Pojaman often appears in Thai media, but rarely says anything.

Rather, she perfected the art of appearing in public as the concerned wife and mother, allowing cameras to capture her during religious ceremonies or accompanying Thaksin and their three children.

But behind the scenes, she reportedly exerts enormous influence over Thaksin and his political and business interests, and is a trusted trouble-shooter when things go wrong.

She was once called a "shrewd political femme fatale" by the Nation daily.

"No matter how important I have become, I always listen to her," Thaksin once told reporters while he was still prime minister.

While Thaksin has stayed abroad since the coup, Pojaman has shuttled in and out of the country, managing his affairs here and then travelling to meet him as he travels the world.

Building an empire

Pojaman was born on November 22, 1956, as the youngest of four children of former Assistant National Police Chief Sameur Damapong.

She started her education at the prestigious Saint Joseph Convent School, where she first met Thaksin, who was a friend of her brother.

She went on to study arts in the United States where Thaksin was studying for his doctorate.

They married in Thailand in 1976, and had three children - Panthongtae, Pintongta and Praethongtan.

Pojaman helped Thaksin build up a small computer business into a telecom empire that became known as Shin Corp and included Thailand's biggest mobile phone company, Advanced Info Service.

When he became prime minister, Thaksin relied on Pojaman to resolve feuding within his Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party, and she was generally perceived as his only true confidante on matters of policy and business.

Much of the billions of dollars that Thaksin earned through Shin Corp was actually held in her name. She even owned the glass-and-steel high-rise where TRT once kept its party headquarters.

But Thaksin's fall has left her - as well as her step-brother and two of her children - in the sights of corruption-busters.

She is under investigation in a slate of corruption cases, including over Thaksin's sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings in January 2006.

The Shin Corp deal sparked huge public protests against Thaksin that eventually led to the coup, and ultimately her appearance in court on Tuesday.

- AFP

[keekwai]

I get two points of view when I talk to Thais about Khun Toxin.

1. Well off Bankokites .. Thief .. charlatan, barstard.

2. Poor Pahk Issaanites .. "Robin Hood" .. steals from the rich Bankokites .. and gives it to them .. they love him.

Back in Australia .. 150 odd years ago we had "Ned Kelly" .. a folk hero of Irish descent .. robbed the rich "Police loving" English gentry .. but instead of giving the profits to the poor .. aka "Robin Hood" .. he gave them to himself! .. I like the guy!

I think Toxin falls into the "Ned Kelly" bracket .. but without the charm and charisma. There's a certain "slimyness" about him ... don't like him.

PS .. he has funny looking eyes too!

[Tony Clifton]

Pojaman banned from leaving the country, banned from interfering with the judicial proceedings.

They should have imposed any visits of hers at any financial institutions or by any other form of communication, to be approved and supervised. Some money needs to be moved around, that's why she's back but I suspect she'll be under heavy surveillance. There are still banks who will cooperate with them even though they were ordered otherwise.

[jumnien]

I'd take her returning as a sign that the vice grip that the military junta had on the country is easing. Good news for all!

[Sandstone Art]

Pojaman banned from leaving the country, banned from interfering with the judicial proceedings.

They should have imposed any visits of hers at any financial institutions or by any other form of communication, to be approved and supervised. Some money needs to be moved around, that's why she's back but I suspect she'll be under heavy surveillance. There are still banks who will cooperate with them even though they were ordered otherwise.

I think her returning at this moment is more of a political move to iron out the PPP setting up of coalition govt. She is not one to take 'No' for an answer .

[jumnien]

Pojaman banned from leaving the country, banned from interfering with the judicial proceedings.

They should have imposed any visits of hers at any financial institutions or by any other form of communication, to be approved and supervised. Some money needs to be moved around, that's why she's back but I suspect she'll be under heavy surveillance. There are still banks who will cooperate with them even though they were ordered otherwise.

I think her returning at this moment is more of a political move to iron out the PPP setting up of coalition govt. She is not one to take 'No' for an answer .

Praise Buddha, let's hope you are right!

[John K]

Actually Thaksin’s reason is believable for his wife’s return, however it may have just by chance. There is an underlying motive and if I were guess the good ship PPP is about to expose it’s keel to the sun and head for the bottom. Thaksin needs someone who is competent to do his dirty work as the incompetent crew of the PPP has all but scuttled the ship so far.

[blaze]

Pojaman banned from leaving the country, banned from interfering with the judicial proceedings.

They should have imposed any visits of hers at any financial institutions or by any other form of communication, to be approved and supervised. Some money needs to be moved around, that's why she's back but I suspect she'll be under heavy surveillance. There are still banks who will cooperate with them even though they were ordered otherwise.

If the judicial proceedings can be interfered with, then what safe guards are in place to ensure that the enemies of the Thaksins don't "interfere" with them?

[AlexLah]

Thaksin is really a bad guy.

I think his wife and children are so fed up with him that they decided to face charches in Thailand.

Their testomony (sorry for spelling) will proof he was the culprit.

Wife and children will get away with bail.

Think of it, wife comes back without her husband, Why?

Mother instinct.

[bulmercke]

Thaksin is really a bad guy.

I think his wife and children are so fed up with him that they decided to face charches in Thailand.

Their testomony (sorry for spelling) will proof he was the culprit.

Wife and children will get away with bail.

Think of it, wife comes back without her husband, Why?

Mother instinct.

Totally wrong. The Thaksin's stick together like glue. Pojaman's return today is a tactical move. It would have been carefully thought out by Thaksin, Pojaman and their advisers in the last few days and weeks. They are clever - that's why they have incredible amounts of money - and yes - power!

[Tony Clifton]

Thaksin family DNA strand.

Edited January 8, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[John K]

So does anyone still think Thaksin will show up in April seeing as the PPP’s future looks so grim?