ID :
137201
Wed, 08/11/2010 - 16:36
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http://m.oananews.org//node/137201
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Supreme Court judges reject Thaksin's Bt46 bln assets appeal
BANGKOK, Aug 11 - Thailand's Supreme Court judges on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family over the Bt46.37 billion (US$1.4 billion) assets seizure case, saying no new evidence has been presented to the court.
Following a one-hour plenary meeting, 119 of the 142 highest court judges voted 103:4 rejecting Mr Thaksin's appeal, explaining that no new evidence which could lead to the change of the facts in case has been presented. Twelve judges abstained from voting.
Mr Thaksin's lawyer Chatthip Tanthaprasart said he will inform his client of the court's decision, conceding that the ruling is final.
"The legal procedure is over. We cannot do anything," Mr Chatthip said.
The Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on February 26 ruled to seize Thaksin family assets valued at Bt46.37 billion as the fortune in the form of share
dividends and portion of the sale of his family telecommunications company Shin Corp was accumulated as ill-gotten gains.
The remaining frozen assets worth Bt30.2 billion, however, will be returned to Mr Thaksin and his ex-wife Pojaman na Pombejra for the sake of fairness as the assets had been acquired before Mr Thaksin became prime minister in 2001.
Decisions by the Supreme Court are final under the letter of the law, but under court procedures here defence attorneys may present new evidence relating to the case within 30 days.
Shortly after the court ruling was publicised, Jatuporn Prompan, an opposition member of parliament and also a key leader of the ‘Red Shirt’ United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said the court ruling has no impact on the Red Shirt movement.
“The ruling fails to dishearten the Red Shirts as it has nothing to do with our movement,” he said. “The fight for our course has not been driven by Mr Thaksin’s assets but mainly donations.”
The anti-government Red Shirt protesters, many are loyal to Mr Thaksin, ended their two-month bloody protest in the heart of Bangkok in May after street clashes with troops which left 89 dead and more than 1,900 injured. (MCOT online news)
Following a one-hour plenary meeting, 119 of the 142 highest court judges voted 103:4 rejecting Mr Thaksin's appeal, explaining that no new evidence which could lead to the change of the facts in case has been presented. Twelve judges abstained from voting.
Mr Thaksin's lawyer Chatthip Tanthaprasart said he will inform his client of the court's decision, conceding that the ruling is final.
"The legal procedure is over. We cannot do anything," Mr Chatthip said.
The Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on February 26 ruled to seize Thaksin family assets valued at Bt46.37 billion as the fortune in the form of share
dividends and portion of the sale of his family telecommunications company Shin Corp was accumulated as ill-gotten gains.
The remaining frozen assets worth Bt30.2 billion, however, will be returned to Mr Thaksin and his ex-wife Pojaman na Pombejra for the sake of fairness as the assets had been acquired before Mr Thaksin became prime minister in 2001.
Decisions by the Supreme Court are final under the letter of the law, but under court procedures here defence attorneys may present new evidence relating to the case within 30 days.
Shortly after the court ruling was publicised, Jatuporn Prompan, an opposition member of parliament and also a key leader of the ‘Red Shirt’ United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said the court ruling has no impact on the Red Shirt movement.
“The ruling fails to dishearten the Red Shirts as it has nothing to do with our movement,” he said. “The fight for our course has not been driven by Mr Thaksin’s assets but mainly donations.”
The anti-government Red Shirt protesters, many are loyal to Mr Thaksin, ended their two-month bloody protest in the heart of Bangkok in May after street clashes with troops which left 89 dead and more than 1,900 injured. (MCOT online news)
