"I'll do the right thing for Thailand," said William L Monson, the American businessman who is taking Thaksin Shinawatra to court on two perjury charges.

The Criminal Court has already scheduled five hearings for the first perjury charge and one hearing for a second similar charge, with the first session due on September 11.

Monson, 63, who was in Thailand last week to finalise his cases against the caretaker prime minister, told The Nation that he still regarded Thaksin as a friend, but he wanted to ensure that the Thai justice system worked and truth prevailed.

Thaksin, a former business partner of Monson, was accused of using false evidence in court when the premier tried to charge Monson, a cable TV company owner, of embezzlement back in 1989.

Monson, now president of US-based Clearview Wireless, said Thaksin had already lost the embezzlement case in two Thai courts.

As a result, he decided to file perjury charges against him. By October 16, the court will rule whether it will accept one of the cases for a full-scale trial.

"My legal position remains unchanged. He's still a friend. I do not hate him," said Monson, adding that he was still upset that Thaksin had taken harsh legal and other actions against

him and his Thai company staff.

The US businessman recalled that his Thai manager was thrown into jail for four days in 1989 after Thaksin had asked police to seize broadcasting equipment from his Bangkok-based firm.

Monson said the equipment belonged to his firm, which was originally a 50-50 joint venture between him and Thaksin. However, Thaksin later pulled out and sold his stake to Monson. Thaksin was understood to have been hired by Monson to lobby for the operation to get a nation-wide licensed cable-TV service.

After the operation was later seized by Thaksin, it eventually became IBC, the country's first major cable-TV operator.

Monson tried to recover his investment and get his fair share of the multi-billion-baht business, but his offer was turned down by Thaksin several years ago.

"I've been fighting for justice and the truth for more than 17 years. I want to do the right thing for Thailand. I love the country and have two children who are half-Thai," said Monson, who was married to a Thai woman.

"I think I also want to do the right thing for Thaksin and to recover the millions of dollars I had invested and lost in this business. Thaksin has created his monsters. I'll eat them."

The American said the timing of criminal cases against the embattled Thai leader was "providential" in his opinion, since he had been fighting the cases for a long time.

Monson said he had been following Thai politics via the Internet and was aware of Thaksin's political difficulties.

"I think a leader has to be honest," he added.

Monson also dismissed as groundless Thaksin's bid for an out-of-court settlement.

The businessman said he made a settlement offer many years ago for a 40-per-cent share of the former IBC business, which is now part of UBC, the country's only major cable-TV operator.

"That was in the early 1990s. The amount was US$160 million or 40 per cent of the estimated worth of IBC back then. Today, it should be more, plus 7-per-cent interest. That offer was ignored by Thaksin," Monson recalled.

For now, Thaksin's bid for a settlement can be ruled out. The premier's lawyers are expected to wait for the court's October 16 ruling to see if there will be a full-scale trial.