Former Prime Minister Thaksin Proclaimed Guilty

THAILAND

By the narrowest of margins, a Supreme Court panel on Tuesday found ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra guilty of corruption in the Ratchadaphisek land deal case and sentenced him to two years in prison. His wife Khunying Potjaman was cleared of all charges.

The court's 's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions ruled 5-to-4 that Mr Thaksin was guilty of conflict of interest by helping his wife get a sweet, discounted price for her purchase of 33 rai of land on Thiam Ruam Mit Road in the Ratchadaphisek business district.

The deal went through while Mr Thaksin was prime minister, through an auction run by the Bank of Thailand's Financie Development Fund (FIDF) five years ago.

"Thaksin violated the article of the constitution on conflict of interest, as he was then prime minister and head of government, and was supposed to work for the benefit of the public," one judge said, reading the verdict. "He is sentenced to two years in jail."

The jail term was given without suspension. But because Mr Thaksin is currently living in exile in London, the court issued a warrant for his arrest.

The court voted 7-2 to clear Khunying Potjaman of all charges, because she was not a state official.

Immediately after the verdict Mr Thaksin spoke by telephone to the Reuters news agency. He said he was not surprised, and had expected the jail term.

"I have been informed of the result. I had long anticipated that it would turn out this way," he was quoted as saying, adding that the case was politically motivated.

"The attorney general will be seeking Thaksin's extradition very shortly," said Seksant Bangsomboom, the head of the prosecution team.

The sentence would expire in 10 years, after which Thaksin could return to Thailand without fear of being jailed, Seksant said.

Meanwhile, People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters at the Government House compound they have occupied since late August cheered loudly at the verdict. They chanted "Thaksin in jail" in unison for several minutes.

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Well my opinion of this is that he is rightfully deserving to be convicted. Political leaders should not be abusing their power to help out friends (or in this case his wife) with their personal wants and needs. Obviously it is a wrong-doing to his country and he seems accepting of that. As it said, he is living in exile in London. If he returns to Thailand he will be arrested, unless he waits ten years; then he can return without being arrested. He put himself in this position and he is being rightfully punished. Luckily for him he can avoid jail by staying away from Thailand, even though many PAD protesters do not not agree with that.

Posted by Amanda B