Thaksin Linked To Wife's Suspect Land Deal Under Investigation

[CNXagent]

Will Taksin seal the deal with the football club first then return?

Time is running out for him

[sriracha john]

and for him, the time to be potentially behind bars is adding up...

between the charges on this thread and this other thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...t&p=1368628

he's now facing up to 15 years *correction edit* 18 years in prison.

He might want to save spending that football money just yet... he might need it for other purposes fairly soon.

Edited June 18, 2007 by sriracha john

[John K]

With this coverage getting to be world wide, if he does not come back virtually everyone will know he is on the run and start to treat him that way. If he does not show up for court he will be classified as a fugitive and that is a buzz word that whatever country he is in will not feel too comfortable with at the least.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin, Potjaman charged

The prosecution has decided to indict deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman over the controversial Ratchadaphisek land purchase. Attorney-General Pachara Yutidhammadamrong said the director-general of the Department of Special Litigation will be ordered to file the indictment with the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section on Thursday. Since neither Mr Thaksin nor his wife were in Thailand, the prosecution would not put them before the court on Thursday, he said. This was compliant with the criminal procedure code for political office holders. When the court accepts the indictment, it will set a date for the couple to appear before the bench to acknowledge the charges against them, Mr Pachara said. Praphan Sapsaeng, chief justice of the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section, said that Mr Thaksin and his wife must show up in court on the first day of the hearing of the case, which will be fixed later on. Arrest warrants would be issued for them if they failed to show up, Mr Praphan said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Jun2007_news01.php

[hammered]

Thaksin, Potjaman charged

The prosecution has decided to indict deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman over the controversial Ratchadaphisek land purchase. Attorney-General Pachara Yutidhammadamrong said the director-general of the Department of Special Litigation will be ordered to file the indictment with the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section on Thursday. Since neither Mr Thaksin nor his wife were in Thailand, the prosecution would not put them before the court on Thursday, he said. This was compliant with the criminal procedure code for political office holders. When the court accepts the indictment, it will set a date for the couple to appear before the bench to acknowledge the charges against them, Mr Pachara said. Praphan Sapsaeng, chief justice of the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section, said that Mr Thaksin and his wife must show up in court on the first day of the hearing of the case, which will be fixed later on. Arrest warrants would be issued for them if they failed to show up, Mr Praphan said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Jun2007_news01.php

Very very interesting development. It shows some confidence that T no longer controls events. An ultimatum to appear on a particular day or face arrest later is piling the pressure on. Will T return on the day? Will he return later allowing himself to be arrested? Will the government request arrest and extradition abroad? Will T try for asylum? Will T request a video link appearance if that is legal? If he appears will he get bail?

Of course the court date could still be a way off but some new scenarios to think about.

[chinthee]

Thaksin, Potjaman charged

The prosecution has decided to indict deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman over the controversial Ratchadaphisek land purchase. Attorney-General Pachara Yutidhammadamrong said the director-general of the Department of Special Litigation will be ordered to file the indictment with the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section on Thursday. Since neither Mr Thaksin nor his wife were in Thailand, the prosecution would not put them before the court on Thursday, he said. This was compliant with the criminal procedure code for political office holders. When the court accepts the indictment, it will set a date for the couple to appear before the bench to acknowledge the charges against them, Mr Pachara said. Praphan Sapsaeng, chief justice of the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section, said that Mr Thaksin and his wife must show up in court on the first day of the hearing of the case, which will be fixed later on. Arrest warrants would be issued for them if they failed to show up, Mr Praphan said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Jun2007_news01.php

Very very interesting development. It shows some confidence that T no longer controls events. An ultimatum to appear on a particular day or face arrest later is piling the pressure on. Will T return on the day? Will he return later allowing himself to be arrested? Will the government request arrest and extradition abroad? Will T try for asylum? Will T request a video link appearance if that is legal? If he appears will he get bail?

Of course the court date could still be a way off but some new scenarios to think about.

I agree we could see some interesting legal brinksmanship here. An asylum application together with the argument "I can't get a fair trial in Thailand from my deposers" due to the polarized public opinion, coup, etc., could create loads of delays, and perhaps a legal basis to resist extradition for a protracted period.

I think his ego would push him to return to face charges, but his legal counselers might dissuade him.

[Plus]

He will return, otherwise he'd never see his money again.

If he has any undeclared assets overseas he can't disclose them without attracting even more wrath from prosecutors in Thailand. Then he can kiss Thailand good bye for good.

He will be back, no doubt.

[Mid]

Thaksin's wife skips meeting with ASC

(BangkokPost.com) - The wife of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra skipped her scheduled testimony at the Assets Scrutiny Committee on the Shin Corp share sales again on Tuesday.

It was the third time that Potjaman Shinawatra had postponed her meetings with the ASC, the last one being on June 6, when she said she had important business meeting to attend abroad.

The Post Publishing Public Co

[cclub75]

Thaksin's wife skips meeting with ASC

The Benny Hill Show continues, at full speed. After the "business meetings", we have now the "headache and unusual heart beating" . Poor woman.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/19...es_30037259.php

Anyway. Let's see now if AEC is going to show their theeth : Pojaman could face 6 months in jail if she didn't show up today. She didn't.... So ?

But because now it's medical, AEC gave 7 more days to see the "medical certificate"....

[hammered]

Thaksin's wife skips meeting with ASC

(BangkokPost.com) - The wife of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra skipped her scheduled testimony at the Assets Scrutiny Committee on the Shin Corp share sales again on Tuesday.

It was the third time that Potjaman Shinawatra had postponed her meetings with the ASC, the last one being on June 6, when she said she had important business meeting to attend abroad.

The Post Publishing Public Co

Very simple strategy: delay delay delay while on the poliitcal front demand instant elections with the TRT using the same name back in hoping for electoral success followed by political influence used to dismiss cases, and no doubt a high dose of vengeance. Will it work? It doesnt look likely right now but we will see.

Edited June 19, 2007 by hammered

[chinthee]

Thaksin's wife skips meeting with ASC

(BangkokPost.com) - The wife of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra skipped her scheduled testimony at the Assets Scrutiny Committee on the Shin Corp share sales again on Tuesday.

It was the third time that Potjaman Shinawatra had postponed her meetings with the ASC, the last one being on June 6, when she said she had important business meeting to attend abroad.

The Post Publishing Public Co

Very simple strategy: delay delay delay while on the poliitcal front demand instant elections with the TRT using the same name back in hoping for electoral success followed by political influence used to dismiss cases, and no doubt a high dose of vengeance. Will it work? It doesnt look likely right now but we will see.

I agree he's a clever b*st*rd, and will use legal and well as political brinksmanship. A master manipulator vs. dumb and dumber. Who wins? Not sure.

[womble]

I doubt it'll be as clear cut as win/lose........

More likely negotiations will bring about a deal and a win/win situation for Thaksin/Coup makers.

The only losers as usual being the poor.

[hammered]

I doubt it'll be as clear cut as win/lose........

More likely negotiations will bring about a deal and a win/win situation for Thaksin/Coup makers.

The only losers as usual being the poor.

Going by the usual Thai way you are definitley right. I still wonder though if this time around there isnt a win/win deal that can be cobbled together.

[hammered]

DSI summons Thaksin, wife to hear charges in SC Asset cases

The Department of Special Investigation Tuesday issued a summon order for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Pojaman, to hear charges related to their alleged concealment in the case linking British Virgin Islands-registered Win Mark with his family's property company, SC Asset.

Sunai Manomai-udom, director-general of the department, told a press conference that the two would have to report to the department on June 26 to 29.

The department would issue an arrest warrant against them if they fail to turn up.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has accused Thaksin of failing to inform the authorities of his shareholding in OAI Property, the old name of SC Asset. In filing his stake, Thaksin did not include the shares he transferred to Win Mark, saying that Win Mark was not his company.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30037265

Another interesteing development. Mr. T and wife must appear before the DSI in about a week or face arrest. The pressure builds.

[hammered]

DSI orders Thaksin, wife to acknowledge charges

(BangkokPost.com) - Department of Special Investigation on Tuesday orders ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman to come to acknowledge charges concerning concealment of information on SC Assets, a property investment arm of the family, on June 26-29.

"Court can issue their arrest warrants if they fail to show up," DSI chief Sunai Manomai-udom told reporters.

From the Post: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=119545

[Jai Dee]

Wife of exiled PM asks AEC to delay hearing on sales of Shin stocks

Wife of deposed prime minister asks Assets Examination Committee on Tuesday to postpone giving testimony on the Shin share sale because she is sick and given treatment in a foreign country.

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra's lawyer Somporn Pongsuwan said that it is up to AEC's decision whether to agree to the request.

Somporn told reporters after submitting the request for the postponement to AEC that Pojaman is sick with headache and unusual heart beating.

He also presented medical certificate from Raffle Hospital in Singapore to prove the claim to the AEC.

AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengrueng said in a separate interview that AEC has not yet decided on the request and asked the lawyer to present an official medicate certificate and details of symtoms of Khunying Pojaman's illness within seven days.

The certificate the lawyer presented to the AEC was not official one, he said.

Pojaman is scheduled Tuesday to give testimony to the graft busters on her sales of Shin Corp stocks to Singapore-owned Temasek Holdings.

AEC's spokesman Sak Korsaengrueng said on June 6 that Pojaman could face up to six months in jail if she failed to turn up to testify at the AEC on Tuesday.

Sak said it appeared she intentionally postponed giving testimony on the Shin share sale twice in order to delay any move to prosecute.

Source: The Nation - 19 June 2007

[chinthee]

Wife of exiled PM asks AEC to delay hearing on sales of Shin stocks

Wife of deposed prime minister asks Assets Examination Committee on Tuesday to postpone giving testimony on the Shin share sale because she is sick and given treatment in a foreign country.

Somporn told reporters after submitting the request for the postponement to AEC that Pojaman is sick with headache and unusual heart beating.

Source: The Nation - 19 June 2007

That beating she keeps hearing is the frenzied tribal drums of war across the straits.

[Jai Dee]

AEC allows Khunying Potjaman a week to present medical certification from Singapore

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) allows Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin, seven days to present a medical document from the Raffle Hospital in Singapore after she was not able to clarify the Shin Corp share deals case before the AEC this morning.

Khunying Potjaman’s lawyer Somporn Phongsuwan has requested for the AEC to postpone the testimony to July 19th, 2007. According to the lawyer, his client is suffering from headache and abnormal heartbeats.

AEC Spokesman Sak Korsaengruang says the AEC has also ordered Khunying Potjaman’s proxy to present the authorization letter by her secretary, Ms. Kanchana Honghern.

Mr. Somphon affirms that Khunying Potjaman is currently unwell and is receiving a medical treatment in Singapore. He says she has no intention to delay the AEC’s investigation as her illness is unexpected and she is mentally unfit for the testimony.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2007

[hammered]

AEC allows Khunying Potjaman a week to present medical certification from Singapore

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) allows Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin, seven days to present a medical document from the Raffle Hospital in Singapore after she was not able to clarify the Shin Corp share deals case before the AEC this morning.

Khunying Potjaman’s lawyer Somporn Phongsuwan has requested for the AEC to postpone the testimony to July 19th, 2007. According to the lawyer, his client is suffering from headache and abnormal heartbeats.

AEC Spokesman Sak Korsaengruang says the AEC has also ordered Khunying Potjaman’s proxy to present the authorization letter by her secretary, Ms. Kanchana Honghern.

Mr. Somphon affirms that Khunying Potjaman is currently unwell and is receiving a medical treatment in Singapore. He says she has no intention to delay the AEC’s investigation as her illness is unexpected and she is mentally unfit for the testimony.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2007

The good Khunying certainly supplies us with some good material for a comedy routine assuming she is not actually ill that is, which if is really the case I am sure our feelings go out to her as hers went out to all those poor victims of her hubbies little er drug rehabilitattion campaign.

[John K]

A few amusing similarities than we x-pats can relate to;

It is the wrong document, please redo it with the proper form.

I am sure that one rolled of the tongue with ease.

Come to Thailand, we want your money.

Hammered, I think win win is the wrong scenario, this is a 3 party game. Thailand, Junta, and Thaksin are the players. As long as Thailand wins, and the Junta wins the rest can go with the garbage.

However I predict that the next delay will be that she needs a specialist and she will need to travel to another country much further away to find him. That will be followed by her condition does not allow her to make long trips, and Thailand is just a bit too far away.

[John K]

There is one thing for sure, if she is not in some hospital with an IV in her, she can make a short 2 hour flight. I would bet she is out on the town.

The other thing is how safe is Singapore, they are on the receiving side of a dance with the devil over Shin. They may just pile the bunch on the next flight back to Bangkok.

[farangsay]

Wife of exiled PM asks AEC to delay hearing on sales of Shin stocks

.....

AEC's spokesman Sak Korsaengrueng said on June 6 that Pojaman could face up to six months in jail if she failed to turn up to testify at the AEC on Tuesday.

.....

Source: The Nation - 19 June 2007

Change that "could" to a "will" and I "could" stop yawning.

They should have enough already to go to trial !

If they haven't then all this has been BS.

The words "in absentia" spring to mind.

[sriracha john]

He says she has no intention to delay the AEC’s investigation as her illness is unexpected and she is mentally unfit for the testimony.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 June 2007

Mentally unfit... usually applies to people that are incapable of appreciating the acts they commit.

She was completely aware of all her financial shenanigans...

She should try Suriya's medical excuse instead..... a bleeding rectum.

[John K]

I was wondering if that was a typo.

Symptoms, headache, chest pains, married to the devil.

Well I guess we can start to expect smoker’s excuses now. Meaning the idiotic excuses smoker’s use to justify smoking like “The wind was blowing and I thought it was a good reason to have a smoke.”

[sriracha john]

There is one thing for sure, if she is not in some hospital with an IV in her, she can make a short 2 hour flight. I would bet she is out on the town.

The other thing is how safe is Singapore, they are on the receiving side of a dance with the devil over Shin. They may just pile the bunch on the next flight back to Bangkok.

Even with an IV, there are any number of medevac flights that could be arranged. People in far worse medical conditions are flown around the world on an hourly basis.

Headaches? Give me a break... she's actually just constipated from being so full of sh _ _ .

[Grover]

Headaches? Give me a break... she's actually just constipated from being so full of sh _ _ .

Nah, Thaksin got a mia noi a long time ago. More likely to contract a human strain of mad cow disease, shortly followed by an insanity plea.

[AlexLah]

Ah, I see going to SG to get treated for a headache?

Miss Pojaman disrespects Thai docters and nurses?

Not good enough for her huh?

What a waste of oxygen and space this person

[sriracha john]

Ah, I see going to SG to get treated for a headache?

Miss Pojaman disrespects Thai docters and nurses?

Not good enough for her huh?

What a waste of oxygen and space this person

It's a TRT-thing... Suriya flew to America to get his bleeding rectum problem solved.

[Tony Clifton]

The usual tendency is for innocent people to want to settle matters quickly while proving their innocence and for criminals to hide or run away. Works with all classes, from bus driver fleeing the scene, the double tourist murderer policeman fleeing to a neighbouring country, all the way to the prime minister, his family and entourage. One can easily see which group the latter belong to.

[sriracha john]

The little man in the big suit TALKS...

*to listen to windows media* =

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/connectasia/stories/m1405774.asx

THAILAND: Thaksin pledges to clear his name

Thailand's Supreme Court will hear the first corruption case against Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Thursday. Mr Thaksin, who has been in self-imposed exile since last September, has pledged to challenge the charges of corruption and clear his name.

Presenter - Linda Lopresti

Speaker - Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer and spokesman

LOPRESTI: At the heart of this matter is his wife and a plot of land. Thailand's Assets Examination Committee, appointed by the military government, last month recommended that Thaksin and his wife be charged over a controversial land purchase. She's been accused of buying a plot of land in Bangkok for the bargain price of $US27 million, when it was really worth $38m. Investigators say the transaction was illegal because as the head of government Thaksin oversaw the sale, making it a clear conflict of interest. If convicted he could face three years jail. But the land investigation is just one of several against him. Since coming to power in 2001 on a promise to improve the lives of the rural poor with universal health care and cheap credit schemes, Thaksin's critics and opponents have accused him of using his vast wealth to blind voters to so-called policy corruption that unfairly benefited his family's companies. His supporters say he has been unfairly treated, including Thaksin's personal lawyer, Noppadon Pattama.

PATTAMA: They interpret Section 100 of the Culture Corruption Commission Act very strictly and with an attempt to find faults on the part of my client. This Section we maintain his innocence as this Section doesn't prohibit a public auction.

LOPRESTI: Thaksin Shinawatra has been in exile since September. Where is he at the moment?

PATTAMA: Yeah, he's in London. He's travelled back and forth, but now he's in London, yeah.

LOPRESTI: So, will he be facing court this week in Thailand?

PATTAMA: No, no, it will take some time to comply with certain formality.

LOPRESTI: Are there any plans for him to return to Thailand?

PATTAMA: No clear or definite plan at the moment until the court issues an order.

LOPRESTI: You've been quoted as saying that he's been unfairly treated by the interim prime minister. What do you mean by that?

PATTAMA: He has been unfairly treated by the coup and several and all organisations or state mechanism establish under the umbrella of the coup d'etat, is that the coup was staged to topple his government and to penalise and to find faults on his part to justify the coup.

LOPRESTI: He still has many supporters in Thailand and protesters have delivered a letter to the country's military rulers demanding that the interim government resign and hold immediate elections. There are also rallies planned for this weekend. Do you know whether your client has any plans to return to politics?

PATTAMA: Eh no, he said he quits politics and I think he stand by his statement and doing other things which is more worthwhile than politics.

LOPRESTI: He's unemployed?

PATTAMA: Yeah, he's now unemployed, yeah, he is now finding things to do, such as in sport or in teaching or human resource development.

LOPRESTI: You said five months ago, that you didn't regret taking on the job of being his legal adviser. Do you still feel that way?

PATTAMA: Yeah, yeah, I still feel that way. I am a man of my own word and I stand by everything I say.

LOPRESTI: Even though you yourself have received death threats?

PATTAMA: Yeah, yeah. A man has to do what he's got to do and it's the quality of the future leader.

LOPRESTI: And Thaksin Shinawatra has to do what he has to do and he probably has no regrets hiring Noppadon. He's fielded endless questions about his client but never reveals Thaksin's hand. He's also counselled Thaksin against giving any more media interviews until all legal matters are dealt with. There's now a growing movement in Thailand to get Thaksin Shinawtra back to the political arena and that movement has gained momentum in the last few days following the military government's decision to freeze Thaksin's multi-million dollar assets. Noppadon Pattama says he senses national reconciliation is on the way, but there's still a long way to go for the ousted prime minister and the first hurdle will be tomorrow in the Supreme Court.

- Radio Australia