Thaksin Case Can Proceed, Thai Court Says

Saturday, August 16, 2008 by Editor

BANGKOK — A corruption trial of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife can proceed, despite the fact the couple fled to Britain earlier this week, a court ruled Friday.

The Supreme Court rejected a request from lawyers of Thaksin and his wife, Pojaman, to suspend the malfeasance and conflict of interest trial. The charges stem from Pojaman's 2003 purchase of a plot of land in central Bangkok from a government agency when Thaksin was the country's prime minister.

"The trial must proceed even through the defendant is absent because they earlier agreed to allow the hearing to go on," Thonglor Chomngam, chief of the nine-judge panel, told the court.

An anti-corruption law bars prime ministers and their spouses from doing business with government agencies. But there is some dispute over whether the law applies in this case because the agency that sold the land to Pojaman was not technically under the authority of the prime minister.

Both Thaksin and his wife fled to Britain on Monday, contending they couldn't get a fair trial in Thailand. The government gave them permission to go to China for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on the understanding they would return for their trial.

The Supreme Court has issued arrest warrants for both, and Thai prosecutors said they were discussing the possibility of asking for Thaksin's extradition—usually a lengthy and complicated process.

He had come home to Thailand less than six months ago after an extended period of exile following his ouster in a bloodless military coup in September 2006. He spent much of his time at his London residence and traveling around Europe and Asia making business deals, most notably the purchase of the Britain's Manchester City soccer club.

Thaksin, 59, faces several other court cases and investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power during his five years in office. He has repeatedly claimed he is innocent of all charges.

On July 31, the criminal court convicted his wife of evading millions of dollars in taxes and sentenced her to three years in prison. She was released on bail.

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