Thaksin can return to face graft charges
The government and the Council for National Security said yesterday that they would have no objection if deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra is required by a court to return to Thailand to fight corruption charges against him.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said it would depend on the court whether Thaksin had to come back home. "The administration will have to comply and we won't interfere," he told reporters. CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin also said the military junta would not stand in justice's way. "This depends on the court, not us," he said. The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) - which is investigating corruption allegations against Thaksin, his associates and his family members - resolved on Monday to seek a criminal graft indictment against the ex-PM and his wife for her illegal land deal in 2003 involving a plot belonging to the government's Financial Institutions Development Fund. The anti-graft panel is set to recommend that the Attorney-General's Office file charges against Thaksin and Pojaman Shinawatra with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Offices. The government and the CNS have not explicitly banned Thaksin from returning, but they have earlier given clear signals that his presence in the country would not be welcome until after the general election expected in December or early next year. Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said his client would voluntarily return to Thailand if the Attorney-General's Office decided to press the graft charges against the former leader. Noppadon reiterated yesterday that Thaksin's return at a court request would underline his "fight for justice". Udom Fuangfung, chairman of the AEC subcommittee investigating Pojaman's controversial property purchase, said a lawsuit could be filed with the court in Thaksin's absence. He was disputing an earlier remark by a court spokesman that in a criminal case a lawsuit cannot be filed when a suspect does not show up. Udom said in a case filed with the Supreme Court's criminal division against politicians, the defendant was required to show up after the lawsuit was filed against him. Attorney-General's Office deputy spokesman Paramet Intarachumnum yesterday confirmed the legal issue explained by Udom. He said the case against Thaksin and his wife differed from normal criminal cases, in which a court will not accept a lawsuit filed by public prosecutors without the presence of the accused. Paramet said his agency would today call a press briefing on the legal questions involving the case against Thaksin and Pojaman.
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