Charges threaten Thaksin's football deal

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's purchase of Manchester City Football Club could be wrecked by corruption charges facing him in Thailand, British media reported yesterday.

Jonathan Head, the BBC's Bangkok correspondent, reported that a conviction in Thailand could affect Thaksin's takeover of the English Premier League club, even if he stays in exile.

His recent acquisition of the club is still subject to the Football Association's "fit and proper person" test, which specifically bars people convicted of corruption, even in a foreign court, the BBC reporter added.

British media also played up news of Thaksin being summoned by the Supreme Court to appear before it to enter a plea on corruption charges.

Right after the court's order, the BBC, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Sun and websites carried headlines that Thaksin's football deal was in serious trouble due to the corruption charges and the freezing of his assets.

Just as Thaksin appeared to be within days of closing a £81.6m (Bt5.5 billion) deal to buy City, Thailand's highest court for the first time ordered him to answer accusations surrounding a Bt772-million land deal in Ratchadaphisek in 2003.

The Sun said Thaksin could face a prison sentence. It said a panel of Supreme Court judges had agreed to proceed with charges described as "misconduct of a government official and violation of a ban on state officials being party to transactions involving public interests".

If found guilty, Thaksin could face up to 10 years in prison, according to chief prosecutor Seksan Bangsomboon.

Thaksin and his wife Khunying Pojaman will be expected to appear before the Supreme Court on August 14.

The court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders set the date following its decision yesterday to hear the case.

The nine-member tribunal ruled the allegations against the couple were within its jurisdiction and that prosecutors had established a case to answer.

"In regard to the whereabouts of the two defendants, the tribunal is satisfied with domicile checks made by the prosecution and that the two still maintain respective homes in Bangkok and are presently abroad on a temporary basis," the ruling said.

The tribunal said it was clear the defendants were using Bang Phlat and Dusit district addresses for official correspondence with authorities, including the Assets Examination Committee.

It instructed prosecutors to deliver summonses for arraignment within three days. Should the defendants not accept these by hand they will be mailed to these addresses and be presumed acknowledged by them, it said.

It said the litigation focused on two issues: did the defendants violate a ban on officials engaging in business arrangements with state agencies, and did Thaksin abuse his office to help his wife to secure a favourable deal?

Chief prosecutor Seksan Bangsomboon said the summonses would be delivered tomorrow.

Seksan was uncertain whether the defendants would seek a postponement. "Pojaman is reportedly hospitalised in Singapore," he said, acknowledging that illness can be grounds for delay.

He said the defendants must eventually appear for arraignment and could not send proxies.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said his client would not return home next month or any time before the general election.

He said Pojaman had recently been released from a Singapore hospital and met Thaksin in Hong Kong. The two are now in London, he added.