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The WSJ said, "The former prime minister said he didn't trust his chances for a fair trial; the government denied the charge. And therein lies the problem".

The paper said that December's parliamentary elections, which put Thaksin's successor party back in power "did little to embed the kinds of strong checks and balances Thai democracy needs. The current constitution - installed by the military government last year - gives extraordinary powers to small committees, composed mainly of judges, including the right to appoint almost half of the Senate and to populate important agencies like the [National] Counter Corruption Commission and the Constitutional [sic] Court.

"So when the prosecutors started pursuing a string of fraud and corruption cases against Thaksin, many Thais wondered if the charges were real or politically motivated. Thaksin himself muddied the waters by saying in a statement Monday that he wanted a chance to prove his innocence, while at the same time, admitting that he is 'not a perfect man'.

"That aside, Thaksin made a good point by noting that 'people who directly and indirectly supported the coup were appointed as members of organisations responsible for taking against me'. The military government set up a commission specifically to investigate the former prime minister."

The paper said that now that the courts have become involved in solving the country's political problems and with the military ever-present in the background, "this may be a recipe for short-term stability. But it in no way deepens Thailand's democracy, or makes its leaders more accountable to the people they serve. In the long run, that isn't positive, with or without Thaksin".

The Guardian, in its editorial on Wednesday, urged Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, to look into Thaksin's case. It said, "Skipping bail and fleeing to Britain, the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra poses fresh problems for the image of British football.

"If he is convicted as charged by the Supreme Court in Bangkok on a corruption case about an allegedly dubious land deal, to what extent does Frank Sinatra, as he is known by fans, remain a 'fit and proper' person to own Manchester City football club? Mr Scudamore will not have to wait long. The court is due to decide in September."

The Guardian said Thailand has an extradition agreement with the UK dating back to 1911. And Thaksin went back home to face justice five months ago after a coalition government, elected in December and composed of Thaksin's allies, persuaded him to return home and face justice.

The paper said, "Jumping bail was not unexpected" as Pojaman had just been sentenced to three years in jail for evading millions of pounds in taxes in connection with a share transfer deal in 1997. "Thaksin has given two reasons for his sudden return. The couple said they had faced death threats, and claimed their political enemies continued to interfere in Thailand's justice system. As a result, they said, the court paid scant attention to the rule of law, facts or due process.

"This may be. British magistrates have shown themselves to be more than willing to reject extradition pleas on the grounds that criminal charges were politically motivated. But if the Supreme Court finds Thaksin himself guilty, a verdict for which there would be no appeal, the Premier League also faces a legal test. Attached to the Premier League's regulations for the fit and proper test is a whole appendix of disqualifications, including convictions for conspiracy to defraud, obtaining by deception, theft and fraudulent evasion of duty. Reading it, you would be convinced that the owners and directors of football clubs are squeaky clean.

"The question is whether this is just a pro-forma blessing, a way of concealing bad smells with an incense burner from the high church of football, or whether the fit and proper test is one that is applied at all. If football clubs are to be more than just the plaything of the highest bidder, and an easy way of acquiring international respectability, British courts should pay attention to what happens in Bangkok," said The Guardian.