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Pojaman Shinawatra, a shrewd political player in her own right, arrived in Thailand with her husband's political allies facing legal hurdles to forming a new government despite their victory in last month's general elections.

She was immediately escorted by police to the Supreme Court to face corruption charges and then to the special investigations unit of the Justice Ministry to hear fraud charges.

A short while later she was released after posting a total of Bt6 million in bail. Pojaman smiled at the throngs of reporters who followed her every move, but said nothing.

The 51-year-old has spent more than six months overseas with her husband while investigators here piled up charges against them.

Pojaman and Thaksin are both charged with corruption in the purchase of a plot of prime Bangkok real estate. Investigators say Pojaman used her husband's political influence to buy the land from a government agency at one-third of its estimated value.

They are also accused of making fraudulent filings to securities regulators in 2003 when they listed a property firm on the local exchange.

Pojaman, her stepbrother Bhanapot Damapong and her personal secretary Kanchanapa Honghern also face additional criminal charges of tax evasion.

Conviction on any of the charges could result in a prison sentence.

Thaksin has lived in self-imposed exile since the military toppled his government in a bloodless coup in September 2006, but on Tuesday he again vowed to return home to defend himself in court once the political situation settles.

His allies in the People Power Party (PPP) emerged from elections last month just shy of a majority in Parliament, but the military-appointed Election Commission has opened dozens of vote-fraud investigations that threaten their ability to form a new government.

Pojaman rarely speaks in public, but is widely seen as an important partner in Thaksin's vast political and business interests, and is a trusted trouble-shooter when things go wrong.

While Thaksin has stayed abroad since the coup, Pojaman has shuttled in and out of the country, managing his affairs here and then travelling to meet him as he travels the world.

Analysts said her return would give a boost to the PPP as it tries to fight off the vote-fraud claims while wooing partners for a coalition government.

"The purpose of her return is to boost moral support for the PPP as the party is having difficulties," said Ukrist Pathmanand, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University.

Photo EPA

Vocabulary

innocence, adj: when you are not guilty of doing what others say you did

ally, n: person or group of people who support you in a specific aim

bail, n: money that is given as a guarantee that a person will come to court for trial

throngs, n: a crowd of people together in a small area

to pile up, v: to put many things together in one place; to stack; to heap

plot, n: area of land

self-imposed, adj: having created something difficult or unpleasant for yourself

to settle, v: to calm down; to clear up

trouble-shooter, n: person who makes difficult situations and problems go away

to woo, v: to make friends; to try and make someone fall in love with you

Questions

1. Why did Pojaman Shinawatra return to Thailand?

a. to take political office

b. to help tsunami victims

c. to get some papaya salad

d. to defend herself against corruption charges

2. What influence did Pojaman Shinawatra have?

a. Her husband was prime minister.

b. She knew how to predict lottery numbers.

c. She was the girlfriend of many rich people.

d. Her son was an admired member of society.

3. Why was Pojaman Shinawatra released from court?

a. She is rich.

b. She is innocent.

c. She posted bail.

d. The prison was overcrowded.

4. What could happen if Pojaman Shinawatra gets convicted?

a. She might go to jail.

b. She will get executed.

c. Her friends will change the law.

d. Nothing, because that is impossible.

5. Why does Pojaman Shinawatra's husband live in exile?

a. He wants to.

b. It is a legal requirement.

c. His girlfriend lives abroad.

d. Divine intervention forced him to.

Synonyms

Which of the following words or phrases replace the ones from the passage best?

1. oust

a. elect

b. retire

c. admire

d. throw out

2. shrewd

a. wise

b. sincere

c. calculating

d. experienced

3. hurdle

a. help

b. obstacle

c. advance

d. loophole

4. topple

a. install

b. choose

c. support

d. overthrow

5. shy

a. short

b. sufficient

c. convincing

d. embarrassed

KEY

Questions           1. d, 2. a, 3. c, 4. a, 5. a

Synonyms           1. d, 2. c, 3. b, 4. d, 5. a

By Ajarn Horst Baelz