D-Day for Thaksin and Pojaman as court prepares to issue arrest warrants for them

"The Supreme Court will have no choice but to issue arrest warrants for the two in order to apprehend them for trial," court secretary Rakkiart Watanapong said yesterday.

Rakkiart said Thaksin and Pojaman appeared to rely on an "unusual defence" by acting in defiance of the court's summons.

He also noted the defence had not submitted any rebuttals.

Junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said he would allow judicial proceedings to run their course without interfering.

"The two defendants should know the legal consequences should they choose to evade trial," he said.

Thaksin's legal team issued a statement reaffirming that he and his wife would definitely not return to Thailand before the outcome of the general election.

"Thaksin and Pojaman will fight their charges after the election," the statement said.

Assets Examination Committee member Udom Fuangfung said prosecutors would soon decide whether to issue an extradition request to bring back Thaksin and Pojaman from London.

The Nation