Thaksin indicted in Exim bank loan case
POST REPORTERS
Potjaman: Gets her day in court |
The Criminal Court is stepping up security as it prepares to hand down a verdict today in a tax evasion case against the wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Khunying Potjaman, and two other defendants. Her husband, meanwhile, was indicted yesterday for his role in the extension of a controversial loan to Burma, in the third case to be brought against him.
Narat Imsuksri, the court's secretary, said about 200 police and court security officials will be deployed to boost security in the court compound as huge crowds of supporters and opponents are expected to turn up.
Withoon Klongmeeboon, chief judge of the Criminal Court, also decided to bar any activities that could cause trouble at the court. Violators of the ban would face legal consequences, he warned.
''We do not want any violent incident. Supporters and opponents who come to hear the ruling might cause trouble.
''Security workers will also check for weapons and explosives which might be brought in. The court's parking lot will be off-limits to outsiders for safety reasons,'' he said.
Mr Narat said today's hearing, which will be conducted in Room 704, will also be broadcast via the court's closed-circuit TV.
The security measures are prompted by a 2006 incident in which supporters of three former election commissioners staged a noisy protest at the court and made abusive comments about the court ruling against the trio, who were sentenced to four years in jail for mishandling elections.
The tax evasion case came before the Criminal Court on March 26 last year when the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) decided to indict Khunying Potjaman, her step-brother Bannapot Damapong and her secretary Karnchanapa Honghern for colluding in an effort to evade tax worth 546 million baht on the transfer of shares worth 738 million baht in Shinawatra Computer and Communication.
The indictment followed an investigation by the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), now defunct.
More than 50 witnesses testified during the trial including Khunying Potjaman and Mr Bannapot who insisted the shares were meant as a gift, not a business transaction.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions yesterday accepted a lawsuit against Mr Thaksin involving a 2004 low-interest loan extended to Burma by the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Bank).
The court has told court officials to subpoena Mr Thaksin within 15 days and scheduled Sept 16 for a first hearing.
In the lawsuit filed by the ASC, the agency accuses Mr Thaksin of wielding his influence to extend a loan worth four billion baht to Burma in exchange for satellite services and orders of satellite equipment which Burma was to place with his family's satellite and broadband businesses, Shin Satellite company.
The Supreme Court said Mr Thaksin's July 23 argument concerning the ASC's legality to investigate will be addressed when it hands down its ruling.
The court also approved the National Counter Corruption Commission's petition to act as the plaintiff following the expiry of the ASC's tenure on June 30 this year, saying the anti-graft agency is authorised by a Council for National Security order.
The Exim Bank loan is the third case against the deposed prime minister, who was indicted in the Ratchadapisek land case with his wife, and recently in the digit lottery case along with 46 others including three current cabinet members.
Meanwhile, Sitthichoke Sricharoen, a lawyer representing the ASC, yesterday called on the OAG to adhere to ethics when picking prosecutors to defend those accused of malfeasance in the digit lottery scheme.
Earlier, the cabinet ordered the OAG to appoint public prosecutors to represent cabinet members and state officials who face the trial.
The order followed the Supreme Court's decision to try 47 people, including 32 members of the former Thaksin government and officials of the Government Lottery Office.
Mr Sitthichoke said it would be inappropriate for prosecutors who were involved in the investigation to defend the accused.
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