Thai Supreme Court opens trial against Thaksin and wife

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-08 16:07

BANGKOK - Thailand's Supreme Court started a trial on Tuesday against ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on corruption charges about a controversial land deal during Thaksin's administration.

An anti-government protester wears a mask featuring a caricature of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a demonstration in front of the National police headquarters in Bangkok on July 7. [Agencies]

It is the first criminal trial against the former premier who was ousted by a military coup in September 2006.

Thaksin and his wife Pojaman are first and second defendant respectively in the case filed with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions over Pojaman's purchase of a 33-rai (5.28 hectares) land in the Ratchadapisek area in downtown Bangkok from the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) under the Bank of Thailand (central bank) in 2003 while Thaksin was in office.

Thaksin was accused of abusing his power as then prime minister by helping his wife get the deal at an budget price of 772 million baht (some US$23.3 million in current exchange rate), which was allegedly much lower than the market price.

Both have denied the charges.

The trial opened in Thaksin and his wife Pojaman's absence. The deposed premier pleaded not guilty before the court in March after he returned to Thailand from a 17-month self-exile overseas since the coup, had requested the court's permission to not appear at all court hearings in relation to the case.

Four key witnesses were summoned to give testimony at the court, the first being Chart Thai Party leader and former Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa.

The Chart Thai Party was a partner in the current six-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, leader of the People Power Party, which was seen as reincarnation of the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party founded by Thaksin.

Another witness was former prime minister and chief adviser of the opposition Democrat Party Chuan Leekpai.

Both Banharn and Chuan testified that during their tenure as prime ministers, they had neither authority nor influence over any decision of the FIDF since oversight of the agency's jurisdiction lay with the central bank, according to Thai News Agency.