WORLD> Asia-Pacific
|
WORLD> Asia-Pacific
|
|
Thai PM won't resign despite widespread criticism
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-17 14:33 The posters appeared on front pages of almost all Thai newspapers Saturday and were going up in every police station and immigration checkpoint in the country. "The police have an obligation to distribute and post the arrest warrant. If we do not do so, the police will be charged with ignoring their duty," police Maj. Gen. Suraphol Thaunthong told reporters. On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that a corruption trial against Thaksin and his wife Pojaman could proceed even though the couple fled the country. The malfeasance and conflict of interest 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 Supreme Court has issued arrest warrants for the couple, and Thai prosecutors are discussing the possibility of asking for Thaksin's extradition -- usually a lengthy and complicated process. Thaksin returned to Thailand less than six months ago after an extended period of exile following his ouster in a bloodless military coup in September 2006. Thaksin, 59, faces several other court cases but 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 pending an appeal. |
