New arrest warrant issued for ex-PM Thaksin

BANGKOK, Sept 16 (TNA) - Thailand's Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Tuesday issued another arrest warrant against deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for his failure to be present for the first hearing of the case of the Export-Import Bank's four-billion baht loan granted to the Myanmar government during his administration.

The court said Mr. Thaksin, who currently lives in exile in Britain, had
received a formal summons to appear before the panel for the hearing. But
he failed to appear at the hearing despite his lawyers' presence, and
without giving a particular reason.

So, the court determined that he intended to flee from prosecution in the
case and deemed it appropriate to issue a warrant for his arrest.

The case will be temporarily suspended until the defendant appears in
court, the court said.

Thaksin was sued by the National Corruption Counter Commission for alleged
conflict of interest and abuse of authority for approving the Bt4 billion
EXIM loan at a low interest to Myanmar telecommunicatione system
development.

The approval was allegedly made in exchange for the purchase by the
Myanmar government of equipment from Shin Satellite Co, an affiliate of
Shin Corporation Plc, in which the major shareholders were members of Mr.
Thaksin's family.

It is the second arrest warrant issued for the former premier after
receiving the first warrant for his failure to appear before the court on
the Bangkok's Ratchadapisek land deal case after Mr. Thaksin and his wife
jumped bail and fled to Britain to avoid persecution.