Thaksin Flees to England

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The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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'Missed the Flight'

 

Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Khunying Potjamarn have fled to London and will not be back for their court cases, a close supporter said on Sunday after the couple failed to catch their scheduled flight back from Beijing to Bangkok.

 

The couple were to catch Thai Airways International Flight 615, which arrived on time at Bangkok at 9:45pm on Sunday - without the high-level passengers on board.

 

Reports they would catch another flight looked like disinformation. People Power party MP Pracha Prasobdee said the couple would not return, despite promises from them and their spokesmen, including Mr Pracha himself.

 

The Samut Prakan MP told reporters at Suvarnabhumi airport that Mr Thaksin will make a statement from London at 9am Thailand time on Monday, an hour before he and his wife were ordered to return and report to the Supreme Court on charges they face separately and together.

 

The couple were due to report to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Monday morning for a hearing on their trials in the Ratchadaphisek land deal.

 

Two other cases against Mr Thaksin - the digit lottery case and the Exim Bank soft loan to Burma - are pending in the same court.

 

Five other cases against Mr Thaksin and his cronies are with the Office of the Attorney-General.

 

Flight to London and semi-permanent exile may cause Mr Thaksin and his wife to lose their bail and even cost them them 69 billion baht in frozen funds, it might also be good for the country.

 

"If Thaksin really doesn't come back, the conflict in our country will lessen, which implies that our prolonged political trouble will come to an end soon," Kavee Chukitkasem, head of research at Bangkok brokerage Kasikorn Securities, said.

 

"The markets should definitely rise tomorrow," he added.

 

Last Thursday, the Stock Exchange of Thailand surged by 4 per cent on rumours the couple would be headed into exile. Business circles, at least, believe political tension will easy significantly if the couple stay away for a lengthy time.

 

Thaksin lawyers were quoted by NBT TV news as saying the couple would be represented in court on Monday morning as scheduled - but did not say they would be there in person.

 

They do not need to be present for the land trial to continue on schedule for now.

 

Kriangkrai Juengjaturapit, chief judge of the Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, said if the couple fail to turn up today their lawyers must offer an explanation to the court.

 

"If there are no reasons given, or the reasons are not good enough, the court will consider that they have the intention of fleeing and they will face arrest warrants," Mr Kriangkrai said.

 

The court would then continue the trial of the couple in absentia until a verdict is given, he said.

 

If the couple fail to appear on the day the verdict is given, the reading of the verdict will be adjourned for 30 days.

 

After that, if the two still do not show up, the court will read out the verdict in their absence, Mr Kriangkrai said.

 

"Until now, there have been no reports that Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman will report to the court, or that they will lodge a request to go overseas," Mr Kriangkrai said.

 

The lawyers told NBT on Sunday Mr Thaksin had ordered his legal team to prepare to fight all charges against him, including the two- and three-digit lottery case, and the four billion baht loan granted to Burma.

 

The deposed premier also ordered the legal team to prepare to file lawsuits against core leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and Kraisak Choonhavan, a Democrat party list MP and former senator, on defamation charges.

 

Their son and daughter, Mr Panthongtae and Miss Pinthongta, had earlier flown to England to meet their parents, a Thai newspaper reported.

 

Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjamarn had attended the opening of the Olympic Games on Friday evening.

 

Rumours they were preparing to go into exile dominated Bangkok political circles last week. Their spokesmen have repeatedly said the duo will be back and make their court appearance and lawyers encouraged that charade by detailing alleged plans to ask the court for permission for another trip abroad..

 

But on Sunday, both Pongthep Thepkanchana and Sansanee Nakpong were unavailable, their mobile phones switched off and their credibility likely ruined.

 

Background report:

The following story appeared in Saturday's Bangkok Post (Aug 9, 2008):

 

Thaksin Asylum Bid Talk Swirls

 

By Pradit Ruangdit and Wichit Chantanusornsiri

 

A question mark still hangs over whether former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Potjaman will return to Thailand to face legal proceedings, with speculation rife the couple may seek asylum.

 

They were in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics yesterday.

 

It was reported that the couple may go into exile overseas to escape the legal proceedings awaiting them at home.

 

The couple are being tried at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for alleged wrongdoing in the Ratchadaphisek land deal.

 

Two other cases against Mr Thaksin _ the lottery case and the Exim Bank loan to Burma _ are pending in the same court.

 

Five other cases against Mr Thaksin and his cronies are with the Office of the Attorney-General.

 

Thaksin: Colleague says he will be back

 

On July 31, the Criminal Court found Khunying Potjaman guilty of conspiring to evade tax totalling 546 million baht in the transfer of shares in the Shinawatra Computer and Communication company. She was sentenced to three years in jail and was later released on bail.

 

Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, one of the couple's closest aides, said he talked with people in close contact with Mr Thaksin about rumours the couple would seek political asylum, but the truth has yet to be established.

 

"Some denied the rumour, others confirmed it," Mr Surapong said.

 

Arisman Pongruangrong, a former Thai Rak Thai MP, said Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman will definitely return to Thailand after the opening ceremony of the Olympics Games.

 

They have booked seats on a flight from Beijing to Bangkok tomorrow, Mr Arisman said.

 

"His return will go according to schedule. Mr Thaksin confirmed that he will come back to fight all the cases in Thailand. He has never thought of seeking asylum as has been rumoured," said Mr Arisman.

 

A source at the Supreme Court said if the couple fail to turn up on Monday to report to a panel of judges handling the Ratchadaphisek land case, the judges may issue arrest warrants for them and may conduct the trial of the couple in absentia.

 

"Actually, the defendants' testimonies have no bearing on the trial. The defendants have denied the allegations all along. It depends on the evidence," the source said.

 

Meanwhile, Sakda Khongphet, a leader of the Isan Pattana faction of the People Power party (PPP), said he will give evidence showing misconduct by top people in the party to the National Counter Corruption Commission.

 

The Isan Pattana group has exposed the rise of the so-called "gang of four" within the PPP, whom it has accused of trying to dominate the party and cashing in on state projects to prepare for the next election.

 

The gang is believed to comprise Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, his secretary-general Theerapol Nopparampa, Dr Surapong and Newin Chidchob, a veteran MP who controls a large PPP faction of northeastern MPs.

 

The Isan Pattana faction claims the gang of four, guided by Mr Newin, is planning to form a coalition government with the Democrats if the PPP is dissolved.

 

"He [Mr Thaksin] told me that he has been aware of the movements of the gang of four and he said he felt hurt," Mr Sakda said.

 

However, Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban denied any knowledge of the plan.

 

A PPP source said Mr Thaksin sent his younger sister, Yingluck, to talk to Mr Newin and his group of MPs during a meeting of the party's northeastern MPs led by Mr Newin on Thursday.

 

The group is called "Newin's friends".

 

Maha Sarakham MP Suthin Klangsaeng, a member of the group, said Ms Yingluck explained that Mr Thaksin had nothing to do with the moves of the Isan Pattana group.

 

 

[Gaybutton]

It has now been confirmed that Thaksin and his wife have indeed flown to England. The Thai court has stated that arrest warrants may be issued.

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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Thaksin Delays his Announcement from London

 

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

 

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who fled to London has delayed his annoucement on his decision not to return home, pending the court's decision in the morning.

 

Thaksin and his wife; Khunying Pojaman, were scheduled to return to Bangkok from Beijing to testify on a trial against them over the purchase of a Rachadapisek plot of land Monday morning.

 

On Sunday, they instead opted to flee to London and his close aides said Thaksin would issue a statement from London at 9am today.

 

Thaksin is owner of England's Manchester City Club.

 

An informed source said Monday Thaksin will wait for the court's outcome before making any statement.

 

Meanwhile a Thaksin's lawyer, who is now at the court said Monday the couple had not contacted him yet.

 

Khamnuan Chalopatham said it was not uncertain whether Thaksin and Pojaman would show up for the trial in the Ratchadapisek land case.

 

Khamnuan said he would wait until 10:30 am before making a statement to the court.

 

The Supreme Court's head office is packed with reporters waiting to cover the corruption case related to the Ratchada land purchase against Pojaman and Thaksin.

[Guest]

Thaksin announces his decision to seek asylum in England

 

 

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced his decision to seek a political asylum in England in a faxed statement to NBT Channel

 

The station read Thaksin's statement at about 11:50 am.

 

The former prime minister said he had to flee to England because he and his family did not receive justice in courts, which had been interfered by his political opponents.

 

He said there were also attempts to assassinate him.

 

The former prime minister said he could not trust in the current political system because the coup makers had retained their dictatorial grip through their proxies.

 

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30080275

 

[Gaybutton]

Thai authorities are now going after Thaksin at full force. They are going for extradition and they're going after his money, although I would think Thaksin is smart enough to have made sure he has plenty that can't be touched.

 

You can almost see the news media gloating and gleefully reporting the turn of events. I don't blame them. Many of you probably remember how the media was treated under the Thaksin regime. Now I guess they look at it as payback time.

 

I can see pros and cons to a successful extradition of Thaksin. He still has quite a large following of supporters in Thailand. They would not take kindly to seeing their hero imprisoned. I wonder if putting Thaksin and his wife in prison would be enough to lead to the downfall of the current regime.

 

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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Target: Thaksin

 

By Post Reporters

 

Authorities have moved to seize the assets, revoke the diplomatic passports and seek the extradition of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Potjaman, who have skipped bail and fled to London.

 

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has set up a team to seek the extradition of Mr Thaksin and his wife.

 

The OAG is also expected to apply for a court order next week for the seizure of the Shinawatra family's assets, worth about 76 billion baht - mostly now frozen at local banks.

 

Deputy Attorney-General Chullasingh Wasantasingh is likely to head the extradition team, said Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, an OAG assistant spokesman. The application would be made under the terms of the 1911 Siam-Great Britain extradition treaty.

 

He said the process should not take long because the possibility of seeking the couple's extradition had been examined in depth before they returned to Thailand early this year.

 

Mr Kosolwat said the authority to seek their extradition rests with the OAG because the couple fled while being tried in court.

 

"But if Mr Thaksin seeks asylum in Britain it will complicate matters," Mr Kosolwat said.

 

In a hand-written statement faxed to media outlets, the ousted prime minister claimed he fled overseas because the justice system in Thailand was being meddled with and he might not receive a fair trial.

 

Deputy Attorney-General Waiyawut Lortrakul, head of the prosecution team in charge of the Assets Scrutiny Committee's cases, said the prosecution had finished drafting the civil suit seeking to confiscate Mr Thaksin's assets.

 

He expected the case to be lodged with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions next week.

 

Mr Waiyawut said the decision to seize the assets was made at a meeting of prosecutors and the National Counter Corruption Commission, which has taken over cases from the now-defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC).

 

Before the handover, the ASC charged that Mr Thaksin had dishonestly accumulated wealth while in office.

 

The ASC, which was disbanded in June, had already frozen assets worth 69 billion baht held by Mr Thaksin and his family members in 16 bank accounts.

 

Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said yesterday the ministry will make it a priority if there is a request by the court or the prosecution to revoke Mr Thaksin's diplomatic passport.

 

So far, the ministry had not received a request or documents relating to warrants for the arrest of Mr Thaksin and his wife, he said.

 

"The ministry will look into criteria for granting or revoking diplomatic passports when there is a chance to ensure that it properly observes the law as well as the ministry's directives," he said.

 

Mr Tej said the ministry will consider what actions to take over the extradition process when it has been properly informed of the situation and legal procedures.

 

Sitthichoke Sricharoen, head of a legal team representing the ASC, said the couple's escape reflects their intention not to fight the charges.

 

However, they can still defend themselves by submitting their testimony in writing.

 

He also underlined that the charges against the couple are not political, but criminal.

 

Dej-udom Krairit, chairman of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, yesterday lambasted Mr Thaksin for attacking the judiciary in his fax.

 

Mr Thaksin claimed the legal procedures against him were like the fruit of poisonous trees and his cases prejudged.

 

According to Mr Dej-udom, Mr Thaksin was the poison.

 

He also urged police to post warrants for the couple's arrests at every port, airport and border checkpoint.

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And this, from TNA:

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Attorney General Filing Soon to Seize Thaksin Assets

 

BANGKOK, Aug 13 (TNA) -- Thailand's Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is confident that within one week it will be able to proceed with the record confiscation of Bt76 billion in assets earlier frozen from the holdings of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family on charges of having abused his power to make undue personal and family gains.

 

Deputy Attorney General Waiyawuth Lortrakul, who earlier headed a subcommittee under the now-disbanded Assets Examination Committee (AEC), said the proposed confiscation of the assets of Mr. Thaksin and his family valued at Bt76 billion will be forwarded next week by Attorney General Chaikasem Nitisiri to Supreme Court judges dealing with criminal lawsuits involving persons with political status.

 

The former premier had recently failed to appear in court and were believed to be seeking political asylum in Britain.

 

The collected assets of Mr. Thaksin and his family were frozen in 16 bank accounts, including Bt18.1 billion at Bangkok Bank, Bt2.1 billion at the Bank of Ayudhya, Bt39.6 billion at Siam Commercial Bank, Bt1.4 billion at Thanachart Bank, Bt500 million at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Bt15.7 billion at the Government Savings Bank, Bt10 billion at the Islamic Bank of Thailand and Bt2.7 billion at the Securities and Land Depository Centre.

 

They might become assets of the state in due course if the Supreme Court rule in favour of the confiscation of the foreclosed holdings of the former premier and his family.

 

(TNA)