Bangkok Post : Thaksin appeal ruling Wednesday
Thaksin appeal ruling Wednesday
- Published: 10/08/2010 at 06:11 PM
- Online news: Local News
The Supreme Court will rule on Wednesday whether to accept an appeal by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family against the seizure of their assets worth 46.37 billion baht.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions ruled on Feb 26 that Thaksin and his former wife, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, concealed their Shin Corp shares and that Thaksin abused his position as prime minister to enrich the company.
The court ordered the seizure of 46.37 billion baht, part of the 76.6 billion baht which the Shinawatra family gained from selling their stake in Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings, and the share dividends.
The court found the sum had been accumulated through corrupt means while Thaksin was prime minister from 2001 to 2006. The law requires the family to provide the court with new evidence and witnesses for a second trial to be convened.
Thaksin and his family members submitted their appeal to the court, which set up a five-member panel, led by Supreme Court vice president Pirapol Pichayawat, to vet the defence arguments.
The vetting process has been completed and a report submitted to Supreme Court president Sobchok Sukharom.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a plenary meeting of 142 judges for 9.30am on Aug 11. The judges will decide at the meeting by majority vote whether to accept the appeal.
If the meeting resolved to reject the appeal, the assets seizure case will be finalised.