Today's News

[1] Bailed out
(BangkokPost.com)

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions granted bail to Thaksin Shinawatra on corruption charges against the returned ex-premier and his wife in the 772-million-baht Ratchadaphisek land deal. He also was granted bail by the Attorney-General in a separate case alleging concealment of shares in SC Asset.

Bail was granted by the court for 8 million baht, on the condition that Mr Thaksin must not leave the country without the court's permission.


The court scheduled the first hearing for the case on March 12 at 9am.


Mr Thaksin went directly to court after arriving back in Thailand from Hong Kong at 9:53am on Thursday morning.


Mr Thaksin, who was sombre but showed no sign of stress, sprent about an hour in court, accompanied by his chief legal defender, lawyer Pichit Chuenban. After he was granted bail, he left the court smiling. He waved to reporters as he emerged onto the street.
Charges against Mr Thaksin and his wife Khunying Potjamarn allege illegal use of the influence of the prime minister's office in the purchase of a plot of land on Ratchadaphisek Road for 772 million baht.


Khunying Potjamarn had previously won bail from the court on the same charges.


Before his arrival at the Office of the Attorney General under tight security at noon, Mr Thaksin stopped at the Crime Suppression Division. He was accompanied by Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his team of lawyer including Wichit Plangsrisakul and Thana Benjathikul


All cellphone access was cut off for a 10km radius of the AG's office in order to guard against possible bombs set off by phone signals.


His next legal business was at the Department of Special Investigation, which is looking into the case which alleges concealment of shareholding in SC Asset Corporation, a property development set up by the Shinawatra family's business empire.


There, he also was granted bail by the Office of the Attorney-General, and the first hearing on his case was set for April 3.


He met with the investigators and the new DSI chief Tawee Sodsong, telling them he would not testify today, but definitely would testify in court.

Welcome home party
(BangkokPost.com)
It's starting to look like Suvarnabhumi airport will be mobbed on Thursday morning. "We cannot stop people who love (Thaksin) from greeting him," says a senior official.

Supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra in fact will organise transportation for "people who love him" to get to the airport in lots of time for his arrival from Hong Kong, scheduled for 9:40a.m. Thailand time - 0240 GMT.


A number of former MPs and officials in the Thai Rak Thai government overthrown by the Sept 19, 2006, military coup, flew to Hong Kong on Wednesday so they could fly back into Suvaranabhumi with "the big boss" on Thursday.


"As of this moment it is confirmed" that Mr Thaksin will be on the Thai Airways International flight, said Supamas Isarapakdi, a top aide to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.


That is when she added, to the Associated Press news agency:


"The party and government want his return to be quiet, but we cannot stop people who love him from greeting him at the airport."


Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee urged both supporters and opponents of the ex-premier to refrain from any move that could plunge Thai society into an even deeper rift.


Although leaders opposed Mr Thaksin's return and threatened street protests, the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy is expected to stay away from the airport on Thursday.


"Mr. Thaksin has the right as a Thai citizen to return to his home country," said Dr Surapong. "That is not a cause for concern.


"He is returning to fight for justice in his court case, which should not be linked to politics. "Differing opinions are acceptable, but they should not lead to serious division at a time when the country needs unity to drive it forward."


One person certain to be at the airport is Interior Minister Chalerm Yubambrung, who has bragged for weeks he will be on hand when the ex-premier returns.


"I will be there as the old friend ... who promised voters that if they chose the People's Power party we would bring Thaksin back with full honours," he told reporters on Wednesday.


Mr Thaksin, after he makes it out of the expected airport chaos and hero worship, is expected to turn himself in to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.


He faces charges related to the 772-million-baht Ratchadapisek land deal. His wife Potjaman already is out on bail in the same case.


Nanthasak Poolsuk, chief of region 8 appellate litigation prosecutors and a member of the prosecution team, said that after Mr Thaksin surrendered to the Supreme Court, the court would ask for the prosecution team's opinion on his bail request before ruling on whether or not to grant it.


"I was unofficially informed that Mr Thaksin plans to ask for bail with a requested condition that he would be allowed to go abroad for business trips," he said.


Mr Nanthasak said that after Mr Thaksin turns himself in to the Supreme Court, investigators at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will have the authority to take him into custody as a suspect for allegedly concealing his ownership of shares in SC Asset Corporation Plc.


Mr Thaksin will ask for bail in this case as well.


Newly-appointed DSI acting chief Pol Col Tawee Sodsong yesterday held a high-level meeting to prepare criminal cases related to Mr Thaksin, especially the SC Asset charges.


Pol Col Thawee said once Mr Thaksin returns to the country, he must surrender to the DSI to fight the SC Asset case.



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Earlier report:


Waiting for Thaksin

Kicker: Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama says ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be back within one to five days by private jet. Friendly websites predicted his return on Thursday by the Thai national carrier.


Mr Thaksin's lead lawyer Pichit Chuenban, who would accompany the former premier to court to hear graft charges, said Mr Thaksin was "poised to return" on Tuesday.


Two websites run by Thaksin supporters, Hi-Thaksin.net and TrueThaksin.com, both said the ex-premier would fly into Suvarnabhumi airport at 9a.m. on Thursday from Hong Kong, aboard a Thai Airways International flight.


Mr Noppadon, meanwhile, said he met the former prime minister last weekend in China and discussed legal work which would be handed over to a new legal adviser.


The foreign minister earlier said he relinquished his role as legal adviser to Mr Thaksin after his appointment as foreign minister early this month.


Asked if he could confirm that Mr. Thaksin would return home Thursday as is being publicly speculated, Mr Noppadon said he would try to find out.


Soon after he returns, Mr Thaksin almost certainly will report to the Supreme Court to faces charges of corruption and abuse of power.


Mr Thaksin has said he would not re-enter politics when he comes home. He said that he and his family had "suffered enough" but that he wanted to face the charges against him and prove his innocence.