The Supreme Court ruled on Friday to proceed with the corruption trial against ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Khunying Potjaman in the Ratchadaphisek land case, because the couple are not required to be present for the hearing.
Mr Thaksin and his wife skipped bail last Monday and fled to Britain. The Supreme Court has issued warrants for their arrest, and prosecutors may request their extradition.
Lawyers for the couple asked the court to suspend the hearings while Mr Thaksin is out of the country. But the court struck down their request, insisting that the trial would proceed in absentia, as scheduled.
"The court considers that the defendants are still in the court's jurisdiction because the defendants had surrendered to authorities, and the court had granted them bail," chief judge Tonglor Chomngarm read.
"The court still has jurisdiction to proceed with the case and there is no reason to dismiss the case," he added.
The case is one of a dozen in court or facing the ex-premier, and had begun before the couple skipped out. It accused Mr Thaksin of using his political influence as prime minister to help Khunying Potjaman buy a plot of prime real estate through the Bank of Thailand, and at a bargain price.
The couple face up to 13 years in prison if convicted. There is no appeal to the decision of the Supreme Court's division for political office holders.
Authorities have already frozen 76 billion baht (about $2.3 billion) of the Shinawatara family's assets pending resolution of the case. (Agencies)
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
Mr Thaksin and his wife skipped bail last Monday and fled to Britain. The Supreme Court has issued warrants for their arrest, and prosecutors may request their extradition.
Lawyers for the couple asked the court to suspend the hearings while Mr Thaksin is out of the country. But the court struck down their request, insisting that the trial would proceed in absentia, as scheduled.
"The court considers that the defendants are still in the court's jurisdiction because the defendants had surrendered to authorities, and the court had granted them bail," chief judge Tonglor Chomngarm read.
"The court still has jurisdiction to proceed with the case and there is no reason to dismiss the case," he added.
The case is one of a dozen in court or facing the ex-premier, and had begun before the couple skipped out. It accused Mr Thaksin of using his political influence as prime minister to help Khunying Potjaman buy a plot of prime real estate through the Bank of Thailand, and at a bargain price.
The couple face up to 13 years in prison if convicted. There is no appeal to the decision of the Supreme Court's division for political office holders.
Authorities have already frozen 76 billion baht (about $2.3 billion) of the Shinawatara family's assets pending resolution of the case. (Agencies)
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
ThailandBuzz is a web application that allows you to submit an article that will be reviewed by all and will be promoted, based on popularity, to the main page
abhisit vejjajiva
anupong paojinda
ayutthaya
bangkok
bangkok governor
bank of thailand
chamlong srimuang
chart thai
chiang mai
corruption
don mueang airport
galyani vadhana
government house
narathiwat
noppadon pattama
pad
pattani
people power party
people's alliance for democracy
phuket
ppp
preah vihear temple
princess galyani vadhana
samak
samak sundaravej
somchai
somchai wongsawat
stock exchange of thailand
suvarnabhumi airport
thai airways
thai boxers
thai politics
thai society
thailand
thais
thaksin
thaksin shinawatra
tot
yala
yongyuth tiyapairat
ไทยแลนด์บัซซ์ เวอร์ชั่นภาษาไทย
Comments