ID :
108392
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 16:19
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http://m.oananews.org//node/108392
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Two judges in Thaksin’s frozen assets case seek 'safe house'
BANGKOK, Feb 24 (TNA) - Two judges have sought a 'safe house' to concentrate on their work in the lead-up to their court ruling on Friday whether or not to confiscate the frozen assets of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Court’s Secretary-General said on Wednesday.
Wirach Shinvinitkul, secretary-general of the Courts of Justice, said all nine judges are free and not confined. However, they can request a place to work besides their own offices. Two judges have made the request so far.
There will be no live broadcast on television on the date that verdict will be issued but only the voice of the judge reading the verdict will be broadcast. If Mr Thaksin has more evidence, he can submit it to the court for a review, he said.
However, the delivery of the verdict will not be postponed, Mr Wirach said.
Pongthep Siripongtiganond, one of nine judges responsible for the case, said he and his colleagues have not lost concentration and do not fear despite rumours about a bribery attempt.
It’s normal that such rumours spread before a verdict is due to be delivered, he said. All of the judges remain focused on their work, Justice Pongthep said.
The telecom tycoon-turned-prime minister was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006 after months of protests against his family's sale of shares in a telecommunications firm to Singapore's Temasek without paying tax.
Prosecutors accused Mr Thaksin accumulated wealth by abusing his power as prime minister. The 76.6 billion baht in assets belonging to Mr Thaksin and his family members represent cash deposits now frozen at local banks.
Mr Thaksin is now living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai. He jumped bail to avoid a two-year jail term for violating a conflict of interest law for helping his then wife secured a plot of land in Bangkok at a below the market price while he served as prime minister. (TNA)
Wirach Shinvinitkul, secretary-general of the Courts of Justice, said all nine judges are free and not confined. However, they can request a place to work besides their own offices. Two judges have made the request so far.
There will be no live broadcast on television on the date that verdict will be issued but only the voice of the judge reading the verdict will be broadcast. If Mr Thaksin has more evidence, he can submit it to the court for a review, he said.
However, the delivery of the verdict will not be postponed, Mr Wirach said.
Pongthep Siripongtiganond, one of nine judges responsible for the case, said he and his colleagues have not lost concentration and do not fear despite rumours about a bribery attempt.
It’s normal that such rumours spread before a verdict is due to be delivered, he said. All of the judges remain focused on their work, Justice Pongthep said.
The telecom tycoon-turned-prime minister was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006 after months of protests against his family's sale of shares in a telecommunications firm to Singapore's Temasek without paying tax.
Prosecutors accused Mr Thaksin accumulated wealth by abusing his power as prime minister. The 76.6 billion baht in assets belonging to Mr Thaksin and his family members represent cash deposits now frozen at local banks.
Mr Thaksin is now living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai. He jumped bail to avoid a two-year jail term for violating a conflict of interest law for helping his then wife secured a plot of land in Bangkok at a below the market price while he served as prime minister. (TNA)
