Thaksin Linked To Wife's Suspect Land Deal Under Investigation

[Solosiam]

Wishfull thinking I'm afraid, Not sure the UK officials actually care about Thaksin - The FA "Fit and proper person" checks have I think already been passed, else he would not be allowed to own Man City. The FA is full of the corrupt, so much money is involved though that it doesn't seem to matter.

Won't be long before every football club in the UK is owned by some sort of scoundrel.

[John K]

Very critical timing here just a few days before the charter vote. If the warrant goes out before the vote, I am not sure how that will be received. I do know however it is received, it will be milked for all it’s worth by all sides to swing votes.

[sriracha john]

Looks like the warrant will be issued prior to the vote....

No Show will turn Thaksin and Pojaman into fugitives

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman are slated for reclassification from defendants to fugitives - if they fail to appear for arraignment on the Ratchadaphisek land case on Tuesday.

"The Supreme Court will have no choice but to issue arrest warrants on the two in order to apprehend them for trial," court secretary Rakkiart Watanapong said Monday.

Rakkiart said Thaksin and Pojaman appeared to rely on an "unusual defence" by acting in defiance of the court's summons.

He also noted the defence had not submitted any rebuttals.

- The Nation

[Tony Clifton]

[sriracha john]

In keeping with our movie poster theme.... an updated and expanded version of the above article.

D-Day for Thaksin and Pojaman as court prepares to issue arrest warrants for them

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman are slated today for reclassification from defendants to fugitives - if they fail to appear for arraignment on the Ratchadaphisek land case.

"The Supreme Court will have no choice but to issue arrest warrants for the two in order to apprehend them for trial," court secretary Rakkiart Watanapong said yesterday.

Rakkiart said Thaksin and Pojaman appeared to rely on an "unusual defence" by acting in defiance of the court's summons.

He also noted the defence had not submitted any rebuttals.

Junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said he would allow judicial proceedings to run their course without interfering.

"The two defendants should know the legal consequences should they choose to evade trial," he said.

Thaksin's legal team issued a statement reaffirming that he and his wife would definitely not return to Thailand before the outcome of the general election.

"Thaksin and Pojaman will fight their charges after the election," the statement said.

Assets Examination Committee member Udom Fuangfung said prosecutors would soon decide whether to issue an extradition request to bring back Thaksin and Pojaman from London.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

RATCHADAPHISEK LAND PURCHASE COURT CASE

Shinawatras likely no-shows as hearing opens

A panel of judges of the Supreme Court's political crime section will today begin the first hearing in the 772 million baht Ratchadaphisek land purchase case. The hearing is expected to proceed without Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman, named as defendants in the case, being present. Thaksin currently remains in self-imposed exile in Britain. On July 12, the court issued summonses for the couple to testify during the hearing today. Rakkiat Wattanapong, secretary to the court, said if the couple fail to show up, the court will make a decision on how to deal with them. Thaksin was charged by the Assets Scrutiny Committee with abusing his position as prime minister to influence the land deal, which his wife was able to close for a sum apparently below market value.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/14Aug2007_news06.php

[sriracha john]

Mr Thaksin has remained abroad since last year's bloodless coup

BBC

Thai court to hear Thaksin case

The first of a series of corruption cases being brought against the former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, is due to begin in Bangkok. Mr Thaksin was ousted by a military coup last year.

He is ordered to appear at the Supreme Court to hear charges he abused his power by helping his wife buy land from a state agency at a favourable price.

Mr Thaksin, who now owns Manchester City FC and lives in Britain, will be represented in Bangkok by his lawyers.

Alleged corruption under Mr Thaksin's administration was one of the main justifications given by the generals who mounted the coup, but it has proved difficult bringing the cases to court.

'No temptation'

When he was first elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra insisted his immense personal wealth offered a clear advantage - there would be no temptation, he said, to repeat the corruption endemic in previous governments.

But a special committee set up to investigate Mr Thaksin after last year's coup believes that under him a number of abuses did take place - the first case is now being heard by the Supreme Court, which is responsible for trying political office-holders.

The prosecution argues that Mr Thaksin violated anti-corruption laws when he helped his wife to buy land in one of Bangkok's prime locations four years ago, from a government agency.

Mr Thaksin's lawyers say he did not have a direct supervisory role over the agency, so there was no conflict of interest.

There are at least 12 other cases of alleged corruption being investigated.

The most serious allegations are that he concealed his real assets through a complex network of off-shore companies, and that his policies helped enrich his family's giant telecoms business.

Mr Thaksin's lawyers have denied all the charges, describing them as attempts by his political opponents to discredit him.

If convicted on any of the charges he could face years in prison.

The cases also have a bearing on his recent purchase of the English football club Manchester City, as the Premier League's own rules prohibit anyone with convictions for fraud or bribery from owning a club.

- BBC

[younghusband]

Back to juvenilia again on the forum, while the critical issues go unexamined.

[John K]

Younghusband, I don’t understand your comment. It is up to the court to examine the issues, we are just spectators. At the moment I am seeing if Thaksin should be labeled a coward or a fool or both for not showing up. Going with the assumption he will not show will start a domino effect of events in motion. Some of them are legal, and some of them are based on the public’s perception. Either way Thaksin’s world gets a little smaller today.

[Jai Dee]

First trial of Ratchadaphisek land case to take place today

Director-General of the Special Litigation Department Seksan Bangsombun (เศกสรร บางสมบุญ) is scheduled to represent the plaintiff in the first trial of the Ratchadaphisek (รัชดาภิเษก) land purchase case on August 14th at the Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions under the Supreme Court.

Attorney-General Patchara Utithamdamrong (พชร ยุติธรรมดำรง) said he had no idea whether the case’s defendants, Ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (ทักษิณ ชินวัตร) and his wife Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra (พจมาน ชินวัตร), would show up in the trial. It depends on the judges whether to issue arrest warrants to the couple if they do not travel to the court on August 14th.

Meanwhile, Pichit Cheunban (พิชิต ชื่นบาน), lawyer of Mr Thaksin and his wife, declined to say whether the defendants will attend the trial, adding that the lawyers’ team has been prepared to tackle the attorney’s legal actions against the defendants if they do not appear in the court.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 August 2007

[sriracha john]

and here's the beginning of the D-Day bombing...

Thai attorney general to seek extradition of deposed PM from Britain

BANGKOK, Thailand: Thailand's attorney general prepared to request arrest warrants Tuesday for deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, seeking their return to Thailand to face trial on corruption charges.

Thaksin has been living in exile in Britain since his ouster in a military coup last September.

There was no indication that he and his wife Pojamarn would abide by an order to appear before the Supreme Court. The court set Tuesday for the first hearing on charges that the couple engaged in corruption in a 2003 land deal.

"If the defendants fail to show up the attorney general will seek the court's permission to issue the arrest warrant and seek cooperation from England to send them back to face trial," Patchara Yuthithamdamrong, an official from the attorney general's office, told reporters.

Thaksin has ignored previous orders from police to appear in Thailand to face corruption allegations, and his Bangkok attorney said earlier he would not appear at the Supreme Court hearing as well.

Thaksin is charged with corruption, conflict of interest and dereliction of duty for personal gain in the case, involving a plot of land in central Bangkok valued at US$24.5 million (€18 million). His wife also is named in the case.

In early June, police ordered Thaksin to return to face charges that he concealed his ownership of millions of dollars in stocks.

- Associated Press

[Jai Dee]

Public prosecutor ask court to issue arrest warrant against Thaksin, wife

A public prosecutor Tuesday asked a special court to issue arrest warrants against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, related to the alleged abuse of authority over the Ratachada land purchase.

Seksan Bangsomboon, director of the Special Litigation Department, asked the Criminal Tribunal for Police Office Holders to issue arrest warrants against Thaksin and Pojaman.

Seksan made the request at 1:40 pm.

Seksan made the request in counter of a request by lawyers of Thaksin and Pojaman who asked the case trial to be indefinitely delayed on grounds that the former prime minister and his wife felt it was unsafe for them to travel to Thailand now.

Judge Thonglor Chomngam, who chaired a bench of nine judges in charge of the case, ordered a break of 30 minutes before making a decision whether to delay the case or issue arrest warrants against the former prime minister and his wife.

Source: The Nation - 14 August 2007

[sriracha john]

Arrest Warrants Await Thaksin and Wife at Court

Without the presence of depose Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman, the Supreme Court’s political crime section will begin its first hearing today in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase case.

The deposed Prime Minister was charged by the Assets Examination Committee with abusing his power as Prime Minister to influence a land purchase deal made by his wife to finalize a “below market value” sum for the purchase.

The Financial Institutions Development Fund had sold the 33-rai plot at Ratchadaphisek to Khunying Potjaman in 2003.

The couple was summoned by the court on July 12 to testify during the hearing today against allegations in the 772 million baht Ratchadaphisek land purchase scandal.

Failing to appear for arraignment on the case would tempt the Supreme Court to issue arrest warrants for them or suspending the case until they do show up, said court secretary Rakkiart Watanapong yesterday.

Rakkiart said both Thaksin and his wife were acting in defiance of the court’s summons as they showed no signs of rebuttals against the allegation.

Promised not to interfere with judicial proceedings on the case, Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said both defendants should be aware of the consequences for failing to appear upon the Court’s summon.

The government however, may consider asking the British government to extradite Thaksin if he refuses to show up when the arrest warrants are executed, said Prime Minister’s Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan.

Arguing in favor of their clients, Thaksin’s legal team said that Thaksin and his wife would not return to Thailand until the outcome of the general election is finalized. However, they would battle against the charges after the election, reported the legal team.

Agreeing with the PM’s Office Minister, Assets Examination Committee member Udom Fuangfung asserted prosecutors would consider issuing an extradition request to bring back the two defendants from England.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

Thai court considers issuing arrest warrants for Thaksin couple

Nine judges from the political crime section of Thailand's Supreme Court began the first hearing in Bangkok early Tuesday afternoon on the corruption charges against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife in a controversial land purchase deal in 2003.

The hearing started at around 1:40 p.m. (0640GMT) Tuesday without the presence of the two defendants, Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman Shinawatra.

The judges later considered whether to stop the hearing proceeding as the defendants were absent, and whether to issue arrest warrants for Thaksin and his wife.

- Xinhua

[sriracha john]

Supreme Court to issue warrant for arrest of former PM and spouse

The Spokesperson to the Attorney General's Office reports that the Supreme Court is preparing to issue warrants for the arrest of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra.

Spokesperson to the Office of the Attorney General, Mr. Atthapol Yaisawang, revealed that the Supreme Court is awaiting the arrival of the Shinawatra family attorney to report on why Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra and Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra have not arrived in court to testify in the Ratchada land procurement case.

Mr. Atthapol said that if the defendants' rationale for missing their court appointment was invalid, a court warrant would be issued for their arrests.

The Criminal Court is preparing to send officials to arrest both defendants abroad through the cooperation of British, Chinese, and US authorities. The Shinawatra family attorney have been testifying in court on the Ratchada land procurement case since 13:00 today.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 August 2007

[Jai Dee]

This thread continues here.

/Closed.