Supreme Court Takes New Case Against Thaksin Over Mobile Phone Concession

[sriracha john]

Supreme Court accepts mobile phone concession suit against Thaksin

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions Monday accepted a lawsuit filed against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing him of abusing authority to benefit mobile phone concession of his family.

Thaksin was accused by the suit filed by public prosecutors of causing damages worth 66 Billion Baht to the state by allowing government agencies concerned to amend the mobile concession contract with Shin Corp.

The court scheduled the first hearing on October 15.

- The Nation / 2008-09-01

[sriracha john]

The OP article has been expanded...

Supreme Court to consider alleged excise tax corruption against Thaksin

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions Monday accepted to consider a lawsuit filed against fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for allegedly abuse of power in telecommunications excise tax policy for his own benefit.

The first hearing will be on October 15.

The suit alleged that Thaksin's alleged corruption caused damaged of 66 Billion Baht to the country.

Public prosecutors' investigation based on a Cabinet resolution in 2003 which approved the charging of excise on telecom businesses. The decision by Thaksin government is alleged to have caused financial damage to TOT and CAT Telecom.

The Cabinet resolution allowed for an executive decree to be issued to force telecom businesses to pay excise. It also let private companies contracted to the two state agencies deduct the excise from revenue-sharing paid under their concessions.

Therefore private telecom operators paid the same amount to the state agencies.

But the state agencies received less revenue because part of their revenue-sharing was now paid as excise.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Supreme Court accepts another case of former PM

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions accepts the case on mobile phone concession fee which involves the Shinawatra Family.

The defendant of the case is former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, charged on grounds of malfeasance and seeking personal gain in line with the Criminal Code and the National Counter Corruption Commission Act.

The deposed prime minister faces legal action as he approved laws to transform mobile phone concession fee into excise tax to benefit the business of Shin Corp.

According to the allegation filed against him, his action has caused the country to lose more than 66 Billion Baht.

The first trial will take place on October 15th.

- ThaiNews / (today)

Edited September 1, 2008 by sriracha john

[lazeeboy]

in his absense

[Sao Jiang Mai]

Well, yes, he did a runner didn't he? Are we supposed to forget all his transgressions?

[Tony Clifton]

in his absense

in his voluntary absense

Edited September 1, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[sriracha john]

the Supreme Court hasn't forgotten, Sao Jiang Mai....

Thai court to hear fourth case against Thaksin

BANGKOK - Thailand's Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a fourth case against Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing the ousted and exiled Thai premier of amending tax policy to enrich his business empire.

Thaksin fled to Britain with his family last month claiming he would not get a fair trial on the corruption charges mounting against him, but prosecutors have forged ahead with the cases.

"The court has found that this case is in the court's jurisdiction," Judge Pongphet Vichitchonchai said, setting the first hearing for October 15.

The case accepted Monday is related to Advanced Info Service (AIS), one of Thailand's biggest mobile phone operators *actually, it is THE biggest* and a subsidiary of Shin Corp, the telecoms giant founded by Thaksin.

An anti-corruption body set up by the junta which overthrew Thaksin in September 2006 has accused Thaksin of changing a telecoms concession fee into an excise tax in 2003, saving AIS money in a concessions deal.

Thaksin eventually sold his family's stake in Shin Corp to Singapore's state-owned investment unit Temasek for almost US$1.9 billion. The January 2006 tax-free sale sparked massive street protests that eventually culminated in the 2006 coup.

Most of the money linked to the sale -- about 76 billion baht (US$2.2 billion) -- has been frozen by the anti-graft body.

The Supreme Court is due on September 17 to decide whether Thaksin and his wife Pojaman are guilty of collaborating to enable Pojaman to purchase a prime piece of real estate at a cut price.

Pojaman was on July 31 convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to three years in jail.

She appealed, but analysts have said the court decision against her stunned Thaksin and helped spark the couple's flight into exile.

The Supreme Court has issued arrest warrants against both Thaksin and Pojaman for skipping a required court appearance.

- AFP

[sriracha john]

Former Thai premier and Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra, seen here in mid May. Thailand's Supreme Court has agreed to hear a fourth case against Thaksin, accusing him of amending tax policy to enrich his business empire.

AFP

[published just prior to the announcement, so should read Former Thai premier and Former Manchester City owner]

[old wanderer]

With Samak declaring martial law, does anybody thing this is not a move to remove the courts, and wipe the slate clean for Thaskin and his thieving family>>

[Tony Clifton]

With Samak declaring martial law, does anybody thing this is not a move to remove the courts, and wipe the slate clean for Thaskin and his thieving family>>

EC still decided on the PPP dissolution even under state of emergency.

Will the PPP try and fight the decision since it was made under state of emergency?

Probably, a desperate mafia syndicate disguised as a political party will try anything.

[sriracha john]

Supreme Court to hear new Thaksin case

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions yesterday agreed to hear a case against former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who is accused of abusing his power by changing tax and telecommunications policies to benefit his own business empire. The charges involve a 2003 cabinet resolution which allowed an executive decree to be issued to force telecom businesses to pay excise instead of concession fees and allowed the firms to deduct excise from revenue sharing paid under their concessions. The move is believed to have benefited Advanced Info Service (AIS), a mobile phone company under the umbrella of Shin Corp, founded by Thaksin. It is alleged that Thaksin's move caused financial damage of 66 Billion Baht. It is the fourth case brought against the former PM, who is in exile abroad with his family. His wife Potjaman has already been convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to three years in jail.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/020908_News/02Sep2008_news06.php

[sriracha john]

Criminal Court rejects Thaksin charges against AEC members, Post Publishing

BANGKOK, Sept 26 (TNA) -- Thailand's Criminal Court on Friday threw out defamation charges lodged by ousted, fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra against a member of the now-disbanded Assets Examination Committee (AEC), the Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. and its board members.

The court dismissed the charges lodged by Thaksin, now seeking political asylum in Britain, against Kaewsan Atipoti, a former member of the AEC and the Post Publishing which owns the Thai-language daily, Post Today, as well as its board members.

It ruled that the defamation charges against 10 defendants in which the newspaper published on July 8, 2007 from what Mr. Kaewsan and other AEC members said were accurate based on their interviews.

The actions by the defendants could not be interpreted as defaming the plaintiff nor tarnishing his name, the court ruled. The AEC's duty is to probe irregularities among government officials and it could disseminate information to the press.

Thaksin filed the charges after Mr. Kaewsan told the newspaper that the then prime minister had sold the country after his government had converted telecom concession fees to excise tax which would directly benefit Shin Corp, then owned by Thaksin's family and is a listed firm on the Thai bourse.

The former Cabinet's decision, now revoked, allowed all private telecom operators to deduct a portion of their concession fees to be paid as excise tax before sharing the remaining concession fees with the state concession owners, causing the state to lose hefty revenues from the concession fees.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's lawsuit rejected

The Criminal Court yesterday turned down the defamation lawsuit filed against Kaewsan Atipho, former member of the defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), and Post Publishing Plc, the publisher of Post Today newspaper, by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The court ruled Thaksin's accusation was groundless.

In the lawsuit, Thaksin accused 10 defendants, comprising Mr Kaewsan, then an ASC member, and Post Publishing Plc and its authorised directors, of defaming him via the publication of Mr Kaewsan's interviews in

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/270908_News/27Sep2008_news09.php

Edited September 27, 2008 by sriracha john

[animatic]

Freedom of the press under Thaksin was in name only.

Print the truth!

If you have the lawyers on retainer to fight his stiffling law suits.

Good to see this too shall pass.

[dominique355]

With Samak declaring martial law, does anybody thing this is not a move to remove the courts, and wipe the slate clean for Thaskin and his thieving family>>

EC still decided on the PPP dissolution even under state of emergency.

Will the PPP try and fight the decision since it was made under state of emergency?

Probably, a desperate mafia syndicate disguised as a political party will try anything.

The PPP will most certainly not fight its dissolution by the Court. They have already set up a new party and all (former) PPP members will join this new party in one big wash up, new letter heads printed and politics continues as if nothing ever happened. London has alredy approved this step.

That's the very creative way Thai politicians deal with the Courts:

Simply ignore the law and the court sentence.

[animatic]

With Samak declaring martial law, does anybody thing this is not a move to remove the courts, and wipe the slate clean for Thaskin and his thieving family>>

EC still decided on the PPP dissolution even under state of emergency.

Will the PPP try and fight the decision since it was made under state of emergency?

Probably, a desperate mafia syndicate disguised as a political party will try anything.

The PPP will most certainly not fight its dissolution by the Court. They have already set up a new party and all (former) PPP members will join this new party in one big wash up, new letter heads printed and politics continues as if nothing ever happened. London has alredy approved this step.

That's the very creative way Thai politicians deal with the Courts:

Simply ignore the law and the court sentence.

They'll fight it to the bitter end,

so the 2nd string doesn't have to join the 1st string behind the scenes.

The 3rd string will move into the new party while the fight is underway.

[stumonster]

Thaksin, now seeking political asylum in Britain,

is this verified ?

[sriracha john]

Thaksin, now seeking political asylum in Britain,

is this verified ?

that's a good point, stu

I don't ever recall seeing any article that specifically reported an actual request being submitted.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin, now seeking political asylum in Britain,

is this verified ?

that's a good point, stu

I don't ever recall seeing any article that specifically reported an actual request being submitted.

and now we do, stu... it's official...

Ex-Blues chief is seeking asylum

Former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has applied for political asylum in Britain.

Ex-Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra, 59, who last month completed the club's £210m sale to an Abu Dhabi group, arrived back in Britain with his wife Pojaman in August after they had skipped a court hearing in Bangkok - prompting Thai court officials to issue arrest warrants.

He was then spotted with his wife and some of his children shopping in the Surrey market town of Guildford.

A Home Office spokesman has now confirmed that both Shinawatra and his wife applied for asylum on re-entering Britain. It is understood their requests are being considered.

Shinawatra was ousted from power in Thailand in a military coup in 2006. He was facing several court cases and investigations over alleged corruption and abuse of power during his five years of office.

In July a Bangkok court convicted his wife of evading millions in taxes and sentenced her to three years in prison.

Shinawatra, who denies any wrongdoing, has said he felt he could not get a fair trial in Thailand and feared for his life. More than £1 Billion in cash and assets were frozen by the Thai courts.

Shinawatra, who is believed to still have £800 Million of his personal fortune, may also retain a place within the Manchester City hierarchy.

Although details of the takeover have not been released, the Evening News understands that, together with associates, he will retain 10 per cent of the shares.

An announcement is due later this month on who will be on the club's new board, which is expected to be headed by co-chairmen Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, or a representative, and Khaldoun Khalifa Ahmad Al Mubarak.

Shinawatra or his representatives are expected to retain a place on the board due to their shareholding.

- Manchester Evening News / 2008-10-04

[TAWP]

It's not like the UK isn't accustomed to granting asylum to criminals, very much like Canada.

[sriracha john]

UPDATE... arrest warrant #6 is issued for Thaksin...

Court issues another warrant for Thaksin arrest

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Wednesday issued another arrrest warrant for ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra after he failed to appear in the first hearing on the Attorney-General’s suit against him for allegedly converting telecom concession fees to excise tax in 2003, in an attempt to benefit his family’s Shin Corp Plc. According to the Office of the Attorney-General, the deposed PM breached articles 91, 152, and 157 after abusing his authority during his premiership to benefit his family business. The Shin Corp case caused around 40 Billion Baht of damage to two state enterprises, TOT and

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=131427

Edited October 15, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

not normally one to tell Bloomberg they're wrong, but I believe this is actually the sixth warrant as two of the four cases he's in now had additional warrants issued...

Thailand Court Issues Fourth Arrest Warrant for Absent Thaksin

Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand's Supreme Court issued a fourth arrest warrant for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he skipped bail in August and fled to the U.K., where he is seeking political asylum.

Thaksin failed to show up at the first hearing of a case alleging that he changed telecom and tax policies to benefit his family's businesses. He faces jail time and may see almost $2.2 billion confiscated if he's found guilty.

Thaksin's trial will be suspended until he is arrested, Judge Pornpetch Vichitcholchai said in a Bangkok courtroom today.

The Supreme Court is scheduled on Oct. 21 to read its first verdict in the four corruption cases pending against Thaksin. The billionaire-turned-politician, ousted in a 2006 coup, has claimed the judicial system is biased against him.

Thaksin's brother-in-law, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, is under pressure to resign after clashes between police and anti-government protesters last week turned violent. A Thai court forced Somchai's predecessor to step down in September for accepting money to host a television cooking show.

Edited October 15, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

and yet a different warrant tally...

Thai court issues fifth arrest warrant for Thaksin

BANGKOK, Oct 15 (TNA) - Thailand's Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Wednesday issued one more arrest warrant for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he failed to appear for the first court hearing for a case in which he stands accused of malfeasance involving the conversion of telecom concession fees into excise tax in 2003, to favour his family's business.

Justice Pornpetch Pichitchonlachai headed a nine-judge panel which ruled that as the defendant failed to appear in court without prior notification of postponement, therefore there is reason to believe that the defendant had no intention of appearing at the hearing.

The court then issued a warrant calling for Thaksin's arrest in order to bring the defendant to court.

Justice Pornpetch conceded, however, that in practical terms the case must be temporarily suspended until the defendant can be brought to stand trial.

The Attorney General filed suit against former prime minister Thaksin after he was found guilty of malfeasance charges, that he had abused his power during his five years of premiership to bring about undue and inappropriate gain to Shin Corp, a telecom business owned by his family, by turning a portion of the telecoms concession fees into excise tax.

The former cabinet's decision, now revoked, allowed all private telecom operators to deduct a portion of their concession fees to be paid as excise tax before sharing the remaining concession fees with the state concession owners, causing the state to lose hefty revenues from the concession fees.

Thaksin then sold his family's stake in Shin Corp to Singapore's state-owned investment arm Temasek for almost US$1.9 billion.

The tax-free sale angered many Thais, resulting in street protests in the capital that ended in the bloodless coup staged by the military in September 2006 ousting Thaksin from power.

Ex-premier Thaksin is now living in exile with his family in London and seeking political asylum in Britain.

[sriracha john]

and another... one that I believe is correct... odd that it comes from Azerbaijan. from a DPA newsfeed

Thai court issues a sixth arrest warrant for former premier

Thailand's Supreme Court on Wednesday issued its sixth arrest warrant for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for not attending the first hearing in an abuse of power case involving his family's telecommunications empire, reported DPA.

Thaksin, who has been in self-imposed exile in London since last month, did not appear at the first hearing on the Attorney- General's suit against him for allegedly causing the state to lose 40 billion baht (1.2 billion dollars) in taxes by changing concession fees for Thai telecommunications firms in 2003.

Thaksin, who was premier for six years, was toppled in a bloodless military coup on September 19, 2006, on charges of mass corruption, dividing the nation, and undermining democracy and the monarchy.

He returned to Thailand in February this year after a government led by the pro-Thaksin People Power Party (PPP) was elected, but he fled to England on August 10 with his wife, Pojaman, days after she was sentenced to three years in jail on tax-evasion charges.

The Supreme Court's criminal division for political office holders had issued five previous arrest warrants for Thaksin for failing to attend various trials.

Thaksin made his personal fortune from government-granted telecommunications concessions run by his family-owned Shin Corp Group.

His decision to sell off the 49-per-cent family stake in Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings in January 2006 in a tax-free, 2-billion-dollar deal sparked outrage among Bangkok's middle classes and political elite and arguably led to his political downfall.

Although Thaksin faces six arrest warrants and his wife faces a jail sentence in Thailand, Thaksin has yet to be found guilty of corruption in a court of law.

This might change on October 21 when the Supreme Court was scheduled to read its verdict in a land case.

In that case, Thaksin stands accused of abusing his position as prime minister in allowing his wife to bid on a plot of Bangkok land being sold at a public auction in 2003.

Pojaman won with a bid of 772 million baht (22.7 million dollars), deemed a bargain for the prime piece of land.

- Trend News (Azerbaijan) / 2008-10-15

[sriracha john]

Warrant No 6

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued another arrest warrant for Thaksin Shinawatra when the ex-premier failed to show up for a case alleging abuse of power in converting mobile phone concession payments to excise tax in 2003. Thaksin, who has been in self-imposed exile in London since last month, did not appear at the first hearing on the Attorney-General's suit which charges that his malfeasance cost state telecommunications monopolies 40 Billion Baht. It was the sixth arrest warrant against the former prime minister since he fled to England in August.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=131431

Edited October 15, 2008 by sriracha john

[jfchandler]

I say...wait until its gets to a dozen or more warrants... then sell!!!