Supreme Court shoots down lawyers' bid to stop Thaksin's graft trial

The couple's lawyers, who are now issued arrest warrants after jumping the bails on Monday, argued the case should be dropped since they were no longer in the country.

"Even in their absence, the court believes it has authority to proceed with the trial, " the judge said.

Their lawyers also informed the court that the team would withdrawn from the trial, the request the court rejected. 

The couple were charged in relation to Pojaman's purchase of a piece of state land for a knock-down price while Thaksin was in office.

In a statement justifying his decision to jump bail, Thaksin said the political enemies who engineered his removal in a 2006 coup were meddling in the courts, making it impossible for him to receive a fair hearing.

Thailand has started the lengthy process of asking Britain to extradite him to face trial.

Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said the arrest warrants meant Thailand would have to cancel Thaksin's diplomatic passport, which he was entitled to hold as a former prime minister.