I'm not guilty : Pojaman

Pojaman, wife of deposed Thaksin Shinawatra, said her husband and co-defendant Thaksin Shinawatra would return to stand trail in May.

"The defence requests 90 days to gather evidence and await the readiness of the codefendant to jointly fight the charges, expected some time in May," Pojaman said in her prepared statement upon entering notguilty plea.

As the prosecution did not object to the delay, presiding judge Thonglor Chomngam ruled to grant the defence request and set the date for the examination of evidence on April 29to30.

The graft trial is under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders, a fast track review by nine senior judges.

At the heart of the judicial review is whether Thaksin, in his capacity as the then prime minister, and Pojaman, as spouse of an office holder, abused power to conclude the land deal in 2003 with the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF), a state agency.

Thaksin and Pojaman have been indicted under Articles 100 and 122 of the National Counter Corruption Act and Articles 33, 83, 86, 91, 152 and 157 of the Penal Code. Thaksin is being tried as the lead defendant and Pojaman as an accomplice for conspiring and abetting malfeasance.

Following the hearing, Pojaman's lawyer Pichit Chuenban said the defence did not resort to a delaying tactics but needed sufficient time to gather evidence.

Documents pertaining to the case were kept by many agencies, including the FIDF, the Lands Department, the Finance Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Office of the Auditor General and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, he said.

He said he was certain that he could submit the defence evidence for the court's examination by the deadline set for week before April 29.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadol Pattama said the codefendants would mount their joint rebuattals on legal and factual issues.

Noppadol said Thaksin and Pojaman did not involve in abusing power as the land deal was done through a public bidding process by the state agencies over which Thaksin had no jurisdiction.

He also dismissed speculation that Thaksin might enter into the monkhood upon returning to his homeland from selfimposed exile in London.

About 50 policemen were deployed to keep peace and provide protection for Pojaman at the hearing.

A group of 20 supporters lined up to cheer Pojaman upon arrival and departure at the high court's building.

Family members and leading Thaksin's allies showed up in full force for moral support.

Seen inside the courtroom were Pojaman's brother Bhanapot Damapong, banned party executive Pongthep Thepkanchana, Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra and People Power MP Chaowarin Latthisaksiri.

Pojaman's son and daughter, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, remained on her side the entire time.

by Kesinee Taengkhio

The Nation