Court decides to try Thaksin, wife in Ratchada land deal

The branch of the Supreme Court scheduled the first hearing on August 14 for Thaksin and his wife, Pojaman Shinawatra, to enter their plea.

The court ordered the public prosecutors to send a subpoena for the two defendants within three days. If there is no one to receive the subpoena, it would be posted on the Chan Song Lar house of the couple.

The Ratchadapisek land deal is the first corruption case involving Thaksin to reach the trial stage. But it is the second criminal trial for Pojaman, who is fighting another case for tax evasion.

According to the prosecution review report recommending trial, Thaksin and Pojaman used their position to influence the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) to sell them the plot.

The original estimated price for the land was Bt2.1 billion. The first bid saw the price drop to Bt870 million and subsequent negotiations resulted in a further discount to the winning bidder, Pojaman, who paid Bt772 million.

As per indictments spelled out by the Assets Examination Committee and endorsed by prosecutors, the upcoming trial is expected to centre on four issues.

Two issues are about a ban on political office holders and their spouses entering into transactions with state agencies, as per Articles 100 and 122 of the 1999 National Counter Corruption Commission Act.

Offenders face a jail term of up to three years and a fine of up to Bt60,000.

The other two issues involve criminal offences for abuse of office under the Criminal Code.

Offenders face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of between Bt2,000 and Bt20,000.

The Nation