Judgement day for Thaksin

If found guilty, Thaksin could face a jail term of up to 10 years for abusing his authority while in office by facilitating a sweet deal for his wife to buy a prime Bangkok land plot worth Bt772 million from the state.

The couple were accused of violating articles 4, 100 and 122 of the National Counter Corruption Commission law, and articles 33, 83, 86, 91, 152, and 157 of the Criminal Code, which bar holders of public office and their spouses from entering into a contract with the state.

In preparation for the historic verdict, Pol Maj-General Amnuay Nimmano, the deputy metropolitan police chief, said about 300 police would be dispatched to provide security at the Supreme Court's division for criminal offences of political office holders.

The Supreme Court accepted the land case for trial in July 2007 after which arrest warrants were issued for Thaksin and his wife, who were then residing in exile in the UK.

On January 8, 2008, Khunying Pojaman returned to Thailand to report herself to the court and was released on bail. Then, Thaksin came back to Thailand and denied all charges during a court hearing on March 11, 2008.

On August 11, both defendants jumped bail, while the court continued its hearings in absentia. The court was earlier scheduled to deliver its verdict on September 17, but it was postponed to today.

Meanwhile, the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has pressed for corruption and related charges against Thaksin, said Thaksin's supporters could step up their offensive if the former premier was found guilty.

A PAD source said there could be attempts to cause chaos in the city and attacks against the PAD camp at Government House.