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Supreme Court accepts Myanmar EXIM loan case against Thaksin




BANGKOK, July 30 (TNA) - Thailand's Supreme Court Criminal Division for Political Office Holders on Wednesday agreed to proceed to trial regarding the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Bank) loan case filed by the now-dissolved Assets Examination Committee against deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The court has scheduled its first hearing on the case for September 16.

"The lawsuit is under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and has been brought in compliance with the litigation process requirement," the court justice explained. "So, it had issued an order to accept the case."

The court will issue a summons to the accused within 15 days of the order being issued.

The case is the second against Thaksin accepted by the court this week, after judges on Monday agreed to consider charges against the former prime minister and his aides concerning a lottery scheme in 2003.
The EXIM Bank loan scandal originated in the bank's decision to lend B t4 billion to Myanmar for the purchase of satellite equipment for national development during the Thaksin-led administration.

The loan approval drew criticism that Mr. Thaksin, who supervised the bank at that time, had conducted foreign policy for his Shinawatra family's business gains.

Following the military coup in 2006, the coup maker-appointed AEC had examined the issue and alleged that the bank loan was approved because Mr. Thaksin had made a personal deal with the Myanmar's military junta seek its favour in giving a concessions for development of the telecom network system in the country to Shin Satellite, a subsidiary of the then Shinawatra family-held Shin Group.

The AEC also charged that the loan was given with an interest rate lower than normally required and that the grace period was later extended to five years from the original two years.

The questionable loan caused the EXIM Bank to sustain considerable damage and to seek compensation of over Bt600 million from the government. (TNA)

enews.mcot.net

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Court begins first hearing on Burma loan

(BangkokPost.com) - The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions held the first hearing on the case against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, which involved the Export-Import Bank's four-billion baht loan granted to the Burmese government during his administration.

The hearing was held on Tuesday at 10am, but Mr Thaksin failed to appear before the panel as he currently lives in exile in Britain.

The now-defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) filed the lawsuit against the deposed premier for alleged conflict of interest and abuse of authority, which violate articles 152 and 157 of the criminal code.

According to the ASC, the government of Burma sought the loan for its telecommunications system development, and it was expected to purchase equipments from Shin Satellite Co, an affiliate of Shin Corporation Public Company Limited, in which the major shareholders were members of Mr Thaksin’s family.

bangkokpost.com


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Supreme Court issues arrest warrant against Thaksin in Ex-Im bank case
September 16, 2008

Supreme Court' s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for failing to attend a trial in the case he allegedly abused his duty to grant a soft loan to Burma.

The court also decided to suspend the trial until Thaksin is arrested and brought the court.

Thaksin is accused of abusing his authority as the prime minister to have Bank for Exports and Imports to grant Bt4 billion soft load to Burma so that the Burmese government could spend the money to buy telecom equipment and services of firms of Thaksin's family.

nationmultimedia.com