Arrest warrants issued for Thaksin and his wife

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Source: CCTV.com | 08-15-2007 09:38

Manchester City's new chairman Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, waves to supporters before their friendly soccer match against Valencia in Manchester, northern England August 4, 2007. REUTERS/Stringer

A tribunal under Thailand's Supreme Court has issued arrest warrants for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife. This comes after they failed to appear in a case involving charges of corruption.

Thaksin's lawyers had asked for the case to be postponed until after the country's general elections scheduled for December arguing that he would not get a fair trial.

But the court's nine-member panel ordered that he appear in time for a new hearing on 25th September. They have issued arrest warrants for both Thaksin and his wife over corruption charges in a controversial land purchase deal.

Thaksin remains in self-imposed exile in Britain, since he was ousted as prime minister last year.

The prosecution has indicated to seek Thaksin's extradition from the UK if he does not turn up at the next hearing.

Seksan Bangsomboon, State prosecutor, said, "The court has issued an arrest warrant. So, now we have to proceed to a court order and later we will follow other court procedures."

Thaksin's defense team claim he is innocent and says security is the main reason for Thaksin not returning to Thailand.

Pichit Chaenban, lawyer of Thaksin, Pojaman, said, "Thaksin is still insisting that he is innocent. His concerns about returning to Thailand relates to political issues and concerns for his security, as he has always insisted."

Thaksin and his wife are charged of breaching anti-corruption laws, which bars state officials and their spouses from doing business with a state agency.

The charges involve more than 23-million US dollars and a five-hectare land plot in Bangkok's downtown Ratchadaphisek. The ownership of the land changed hands from the Office of the Financial Institutes Development Fund to Thaksin's wife Pojaman in 2003.

Editor:Du Xiaodan