Criminal Wanted: Thaksin and Pojamarn

Two intimates of the family of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra waved off speculation on Thursday he would go into exile to avoid court cases and possible prison sentences.

Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat, who is deputy prime minister and education minister, insisted deposed premier Thaksin and his wife Khunying Potjaman are not seeking political asylum, and they will return to fight their charges in Thailand.

His personal spokeswoman Sansanee Nakpong said the same thing: "He has told me he will return as planned and so far I haven't been informed of any change of plan."

Khunying Potjaman, her step-brother Bannapot Damapong and Mrs Thaksin's secretary Kanchanapa Honghern left Thailand on Thursday morning on a Thai Airways International flight to Beijing. Some of her three children broke down into tears as they saw her off.

Reports have been rife that they would seek political asylum after the Criminal Court sentenced the three to jail.

Adding a touch of irony, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej also departed for the opening of the Beijing Olympics - on the same flight as Khunying Potjaman.

Mr Thaksin is scheduled to return from China on Sunday. He flew from Thailand to Japan on July 31 to give a special lecture before proceeding to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Rumours that Mr Thaksin would go into exile and save the country a lot of political turmoil helped to send shares at the Stock Exchange of Thailand leaping up by more than 4 per cent on Thursday, brokers claimed.

(Other brokers, however, credited falling oil prices and a partial return of foreign funds to the SET for the rise.)

Mr Thaksin and his wife are both travelling abroad, with court permission. They are to meet in China as the Olympics begin on Friday, and are to return - under terms of their agreement with the court - next Monday.

"Please wait until he returns," said Ms Sansanee to reporters. "Please avoid any speculation for now."

Mr Somchai said Mr Thaksin will appear before the court on Aug 11 as ordered. He said the ousted prime minister has always followed the court’s orders.

The court earlier found Khunying Potjaman, and her step-brother guilty of conspiring to evade taxes of 546 million baht on the transfer of shares in Shinawatra Computer and Communication, the old name for Shin Corp.

They were sentenced to three years in jail, and Khunying Potjaman's secretary Karnchanapa Honghern received a two-year prison sentence in the case. All three are out on bail while the case is appealed.

Mr Somchai said Khunying Potjaman still has confidence in the Thai justice system, and will appeal her case normally.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=129411