Chalerm Rules Out Thaksin Extradition

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LEGAL ISSUES

Chalerm rules out Thaksin extradition

The Nation

Democrat Party deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij, right, and Democrat MP Satit Pitutecha called on Lumpini Police Station superintendent Colonel Rangsan Praditphon yesterday, asking to see the document that former PM Thaksin Shinawatra allegedly sent

Rejects cases stemming from coup; Korn doubts Thaksin's signature

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could not be brought back to face prosecution in Thailand because all the cases against him stemmed from the 2006 coup.

Chalerm was responding to Democrat MP Sathit Pitutecha, who reminded the House of Representatives that Thaksin was wanted in relation to many cases, including alleged irregularities in relation to money lent by Krung Thai Bank to Krisda Mahanakorn.

Demands 'inappropriate'

However, the deputy PM defended Thaksin by saying that such demands were inappropriate because all the cases against Thaksin, including the one related to the Krung Thai Bank, had been initiated by the Assets Examination Committee, which was created by the coup-makers.

Chalerm added that he refused to recognise the legitimacy of the coup-makers.

"Thaksin is being dragged into these issues through slander. Let me reiterate that this government has been strictly adhering to the law, but on this matter it does not have any power.

'Questionable laws'

"Let me ask a question: in the case of the Ratchadaphisek land purchase, [Thaksin's] wife bought the land, but you convicted the husband?

"No other country would do this, only Thailand.

"So, I will not seek his extradition. When Thailand has better rules, and not just those that admire the court, then I will ask Thaksin to return," Chalerm said.

He also said that he did not need to explain when and where he met the former leader because it was a private matter and that the opposition Democrat Party was welcome to file a censure motion against him.

Sathit, meanwhile, accused the government of engaging in preferential treatment and being selective in terms of using the law, adding that the Office of the Attorney-General had the right to seek Thaksin's extradition.

Chalerm responded by saying that if Thaksin is a criminal, then the Department of Special Investigation would definitely try to arrest him.

Separately, Democrat Party's deputy leader, Korn Chatikavanij, cast doubts over the authenticity of Thaksin's signature on a document used to file libel suits against four Democrat MPs over the "men-in-black" issue.

Korn said it would be a serious violation of the law if the signature was found to have been faked by Thaksin's legal team.

-- The Nation 2012-10-19

[Moruya]

Chalermalise Legalis

[rubl]

"So, I will not seek his extradition. When Thailand has better rules, and not just those that admire the court, then I will ask Thaksin to return," Chalerm said.

Just wondering, did Dept. PM Pol. Captain Chalerm also mention he's still busy writing those 'better' rules ?

[MikeOboe57]

Chalermalise Legalis

The Honour Code among crooks demands that you don't cooperate with law enforcement.

[FOODLOVER]

Or mention that over half a billion dollars has been illegally sent to Hong Kong from flood relief fundage and one of the alleged culprits is a high ranking politician with the initials Ch? Wasn't he just pictured in Hong Kong fully ear medication faced meeting with Thaksin the criminal fugitive? Seems a strange relationship, one of them drives a pink Bentley. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Soutpeel]

My dear Chalerm....if the goverments position is that the dear leader is innocent and the weight of the current goverment is behind him....why isnt he back here fighting the charges and sentances then, considering the fact his sister is the standing PM ?

Further why is the goverment commenting on behalf of a currently wanted fugitive ?

"So, I will not seek his extradition. When Thailand has better rules"

Very interesting comment...can use this one if I get in trouble with the Thai law ?.....sorry I dont think the rules are that good, so you cant charge me...

[whybother]

What difference does it make who investigated? If what they found was wrong, Thaksin should be able to defend himself.

[siampolee]

Thaksin was found guilty under his own brother in laws administration ,it was his personally backed family business regime that judged him

[MunterHunter]

Let me reiterate that this government has been strictly adhering to the law

Err.. passports?

[EvilDrSomkid]

To paraphrase: We only apply the law if it suits us and our dear leader.

[Ricardo]

Funny, I always thought that skipping bail in 2008 was a crime too, but clearly DPM-Chalerm knows better ?

Or failing to appear before the Supreme Court in the banking-case last week, also clearly coup-related, not !

[fareastguy]

After we've managed to re-write the rules to better suit ourselves & are assured of the outcome we might ask him to come back.

[Tatsujin]

I'm at a loss for words ...

[animatic]

If the charges are solely based on evidence from the coup plotters

and that is it; 'nothing but ginned up evidence with no basis in fact',

then why was he convicted by POST coup verified evidence

during the tenur of one of his own Thaksin supported friendly governments?

There's the rub,

the CHARGES were made by the Assets Examination Committee,

but that has not existed for several years now.

But the charges are real in legitimate pre-coup in bodies SINCE then.

And have remained so across several governments including 3 pro Thaksin ones.

Regardless of it's origin at the AEC. the actual prosecution of those facts of law is to be

done by the Attorney General and Courts that are well passed that committees tenture,

and have no connection with it, other than taking in collated evidence from it in previous incarnations.

Nothing in Chalerm's whining says the evidence is bad, only that the investigative body is.

There have been 3 Thaksin friendly Samak, Somchai, and Yingluck governments since the coup.

So how would the disbanded AEC have ANY bearing on the prosecution of charges that

they haven't had a hand in in several years?

Basically if there was no basis for the charges being acted on,

why have they not been thrown out ages ago?

Because the evidence is valid.

If there is no basis for the charges to be acted on, then why is Thaksin at ANY RISK by going the

formalities in court and having the judges summarily throw them out for no basis in law?

Because the evidence itself can be re validated in the courts, removing any taint of coup or AEC.

If Thaksin is the only one of a dozen + defendants who have been brought to court on the charges,

that aree presently going through with their cases in court, how can he say that HE ALONE

is the only one that is a victim of these charges stemming from the coup.

Because this is the only legal leg he has to stand on, and that is a false leg made of flimsy balsa wood.

They all should have the same argument, that they are being charged based on a

political vendetta against Thaksin, yet in the other cases others around him at the time

are not successfully making that argument. And all this under Thaksin friendly governments.

He is afraid of these charges, not because of their 'origin at the AEC', that is a smoke screen,

they could redo the charges again and come up with the same charges, they don't bother,

because there is enough evidence collected now, AND because under law there IS

validity to the charges and not only Thaksin, but his cronies of the time, will all go down,

because it is feared that the IS enough evidence to to hang them out to dry for a long time.

So he doesn't return to face them and goes for global amnesty.

So many are connected it would be political carnage if he didn't try to

globally get them dropped and stall them, for his political machines safety.

Would anyone be surprised a certain politician who's initial is C,

might be found tooth and jowl with said defendants of that time?

Thaksin's tentacles reached far an wide, who knows what OTHER avenues of investigation

all these cases could open up, if followed thoroughly through in courts?

More smoke screen and obfuscation from Mr. C. to benefit the liege lord,

the AEC is not the point, but the evidence that it collected is.

Edited October 19, 2012 by animatic

[asiawatcher]

Firstly I would put in a censure motion against this clown for making these statements and a vote of no confidence against him. He has been at his post for five minutes and is flaunting blatant disregard of the law already (his MO anyway).

Most of the scams undertaken by Thaksin and his cronies happened way before the coup and the reason for it, and it was left up to the new Govt to action charges against him. It has nothing to do with the Govt this clown claims unilaterally not to recognise.

Just another smart-assed mouthpiece of the puppet master smirking at the inability of police and law enforcement to do anything.

[siampolee]

One of course needs to remember that Chalerm is desperate for , ''Brownie Points'' at this moment in time due to the slowly moving consolidation of the Shinawatra clan concerning the corridors of power and the slow pocess of turning Thailand into a Thaksin business entity as shown by the recent brother in law of Thaksins acceptance into the party and thus without a doubt the puppet masters prop box.

Chalerms position is endangered as is his income and his sphere of influence politically and financially, the hunter may well fear becoming the hunted.

Creative art work regarding statements and signatures are part of Chalerms portfolio as we have seen from his siblings military records and the assorted legal actions against his little angels who are as pure as the driven snow in Chalerms inverted perverted world. Skulduggery is not unknown in Chalerms family.

The facts are that the charges were made under a Thaksin influenced administration the verdicts reached under a Thaksin administration and the bail jumping was allowed under a Thaksin administration.Now the ongoing whitewashing is being done by Chalerm under a Thaksin administration.

Michelangelo, Ruebens Constable, Matisse etc all great artists, Chalerm it seems is trying to emulate their skills in presenting superb works of art to the public regarding the bail jumping convicted renegade paymaster and puppet master who pulls his (Chalerm) strings and pays him a stipend.;

Edited October 19, 2012 by siampolee

[AleG]

Whenever I see news like this I remember the... simpletons (to put it mildly), who after the elections were waxing poetic about Thailand´s return to Democracy®.

Those people may want to explain in what Democracy® the government can say "we will strictly adhere to the laws... the ones we like anyway".

[FarangTalk]

The Democrats are still going after Thaksin because it's all they've got and it's at the behest of their puppet master.

He won guys, time to let it go.

[Thai at Heart]

Isn't it illegal to question a court judgment in Thailand?

[marshbags]

The jail term was given according to the constitutional laws of Thailand

While he got away it must be pointed out, with more serious offences relating to this case of which he was very fortunate to get off them.

Thaksin was sentenced on less serious offences which were for violating the constitution on a conflict of interest charge while he was PM / CEO / head of the goverment at the time the offence was committed .

As was par for his selfish self interest, using his unchallengable influence to minipulate the constitutional laws in his favour re existing laws of the day.

He was sentenced to 2 years in jail based on evidence and pre existing laws of the constitution going way back in time, for the benefit of the sceptics, not coup initiated ones. l

He was of course supposedely elected to represent and work in the interest of Thailand, it,s citizens and for the benefit of the public interests in general ect. ect. and this is what he was found to have ignored and abused.

He should have been questioned by ministers which include Chalerm and taken to task on his unlawful practises long before the old nutmeg of an excuse relating to everything not in their favour being coup related, not forgetting the band of unethical underlings who did and still do Thaksins bidding.

As for Chalerm the individual he is very lucky indeed he has managed to escape ( for the present that is ) but I feel sure his day in court will eventually come.

History will at the very least show his unprincipled and contradictory interpretations for what they are.

AS he mentions law.........

I am also bound to put a word in for 3 his sons who have continually ignored the laws of the land, not least of all their infamous reputations for heavy handed distributions, as per these infamous Chalerm brothers AKA " brawiing brats of the elite " and their equally infamous father.

How obscene and offensive it is that rather than rightfully be cast into disgracefull oblivion they are elected in several ways to represent this present government.

Add to this that the youngest is not only reinstated, but promoted to an official capacity within the very police force, while being a junior officer, he was mysteriousy found not guilty of cold bloodedly shooting a fellow officer, not because he was innocent, but surprise, surprise, manipulation and the of destroying much of the incriminating evidence that would have found him guilty. ect. ect.

Unbelievable crass with Opportunism in full flight by Chalerm and the goverment who,s main objective is to bring back their leader in voluntary exile so he can be obsolved of all allegations and jail time to personally continue his pre coup plundering.

The creditability of this #$%&^%$^%*! so called representative of law went down the cess pit long ago.

marshbags

Edited October 19, 2012 by marshbags

[MunterHunter]

The Democrats are still going after Thaksin because it's all they've got and it's at the behest of their puppet master.

He won guys, time to let it go.

No Mr Chalerm, he didn't win... hes still fighting *not* to lose.

And Mr Thaksin is the root cause to most of the political problems here in Thailand, so cutting the head off the snake is the best way forward right now, i reckon

[whybother]

The Democrats are still going after Thaksin because it's all they've got and it's at the behest of their puppet master.

He won guys, time to let it go.

And why would the courts still be going after Thaksin?

[hellodolly]

Funny, I always thought that skipping bail in 2008 was a crime too, but clearly DPM-Chalerm knows better ?

Or failing to appear before the Supreme Court in the banking-case last week, also clearly coup-related, not !

What it boils down to is a matter of quantity. How much ear medicine have you had. Obviously a considerable amount. Even his own sister's government wants him here and have issued warren's to that purpose. Along with the knowledge that short of his death there will be more to follow.

[lizardtongue]

When Thailand has better rules, and not just those that admire the court, then I will ask Thaksin to return," Chalerm said.

It was only 10 days ago that 25 people appeared at court to answer charges Thaksin was also summoned to answer the same charge(s) but he failed to appear, now this clowns comments have surely given the 25 who appeared a way out?

"Let me ask a question: in the case of the Ratchadaphisek land purchase, [Thaksin's] wife bought the land, but you convicted the husband?

"No other country would do this, only Thailand.

If my memory serves me correct, it was shown that Thaksin used his wife and his sons name to make unscrupulous deals, which is fairly common practice in matters like these!

I do however agree with "No other country would do this, only Thailand" if it is applied to the way the matter of Thaksin's extradition and issue of his passport is concerned.

He also said that he did not need to explain when and where he met the former leader because it was a private matter and that the opposition Democrat Party was welcome to file a censure motion against him.

So Yingluck's assurance of transparency now does not apply?

Thailand's politics are the laughing stock of the world and rank alongside the likes of Ghana, Somalia and Nigeria.

[EarthAlien]

If the dems couldn't get him back under an extradition order during their 2006-2011 reign then how on earth do they expect the current Thaksin proxy sympathetic government to perform an extradition for them?

[EvilDrSomkid]

I think it would be more effective for the Dems to go after Chalerm himself instead. They must have some serious dirt on him.

Taking Chalerm down hard would be maybe equally demoralizing for the PTP and Shinawatra clan.

[whybother]

If the dems couldn't get him back under an extradition order during their 2006-2011 reign then how on earth do they expect the current Thaksin proxy sympathetic government to perform an extradition for them?

What extradition order?

And what 2006-2011 reign? The military junta was in charge from Sept 2006 to Dec(?) 2007. Then Thaksin proxy governments were in power until late 2008. The Dems were in power from late Dec 2008 to June 2011.

[Soutpeel]

If the dems couldn't get him back under an extradition order during their 2006-2011 reign then how on earth do they expect the current Thaksin proxy sympathetic government to perform an extradition for them?

Maybe they didnt want him back, hence the reason they never persued things with Interpol too hard...

[AleG]

I think it would be more effective for the Dems to go after Chalerm himself instead. They must have some serious dirt on him.

Taking Chalerm down hard would be maybe equally demoralizing for the PTP and Shinawatra clan.

BBBBZZZZT!!!!

Sorry, you used "demoralizing", PTP and Shinawatra in the same sentence; you lose 75 points and have to go back three squares.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Mr Thaksin will not return to Thailand any time soon because he knows eventually someone will shoot him dead.....

Which would make him a martyr and re-energize the radical red shirt faction(s). Not to mention plunge the country further in to chaos.

It would not be in anybody's interest. It would seriously backfire.