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The controversy surrounding Thaksin Shinawatra, the Manchester City
owner, deepened yesterday when another set of warrants were issued
for the arrest of the former Prime Minister of Thailand and his
wife.
The warrants were issued in relation to a police inquiry into
the couple’s alleged violation of stock-trading laws,
according to investigators for the Department of Special
Investigations (DSI) in Thailand.
Only three weeks ago, Thailand’s Supreme Court issued
warrants for the arrest of Thaksin and Potjaman, his wife, after
they failed to return home to answer charges of abuse of power over
a 772 million baht (about £12 million) land deal.
Thaksin faces the possible, but unlikely, threat of extradition
from Britain, where he has been living since being ousted from
office in a military coup last year. He has vowed not to return to
Thailand until after the democratic elections in December for fear
of his life and those of his family.
The DSI has been investigating allegations that Thaksin and his
wife violated Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Act by
concealing assets through a company, SC Assets Co, and said that
warrants were sought after the couple repeatedly failed to appear
in Bangkok to hear the charges. “The court approved an arrest
warrant,” Pornchai Asavawattanaporn, of the DSI, said
yesterday.
Thaksin, who attended City’s 1-0 defeat by Blackburn
Rovers at Ewood Park on Sunday, and his wife have still to appear
in court over the land deal.
In that case, Thaksin stands accused of abusing his power while
in office by helping his wife to buy a prime plot of real estate in
Bangkok in 2003 for a price well below its market value.
Thaksin and his wife have denied all allegations of corruption
against them and insist that the charges are politically
motivated.
A statement from Thaksin in response to the latest set of
warrants is expected this morning.
Under Part 2 of the Extradition Act 2003, the Thai Embassy in
London could seek the help of the Home Office if Thaksin refuses to
return to his homeland, but, given that the present Thai Government
was not democratically elected, it would appear unlikely that the
Government here would assist in any extradition request.
Source:
Times Online
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