Thaksin pleads not guilty to charges

Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra pleaded not guilty to corruption charges against him and his wife yesterday as hundreds of supporters outside the Supreme Court chanted their support for him.

In a statement to a nine-judge court, Thaksin denied he and his wife Potjaman violated anti-graft laws that prevent serving politicians and their spouses from doing business deals with state agencies.

The couple had "submitted a joint affidavit denying all the charges", chief judge Thonglor Chomngam said.