ID :
50405
Fri, 03/13/2009 - 21:01
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/50405
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Thai prosecutors seek extradition treaty with Hong Kong
BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) - Thai public prosecutors will travel to Hong Kong next week to arrange for a criminal extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong so that convicted and on-the-run former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who frequently visits the Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR), can be extradited to serve the two-year jail term he was sentenced in absentia last year.
Thai authorities have been frustrated by reports of Mr. Thaksin's frequent visits to China's Special Administrative Region, where he is currently legally free to stay and go about his business, and Thai authorities are anxious to bring the globetrotting Thaksin back home to serve a two-year jail term handed down by the Supreme Court last year.
Sirisak Tiyaphan, Director-General of Thailand’s Office of the Attorney General’s department of foreign litigation, said he will lead a team of government officials to Hong Kong on Tuesday (March 17) to make the necessary arrangements for an extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong.
The ex-premier, removed from power in a military coup in September 2006, was found guilty by the Supreme Court last year of violating Thailand’s conflict of interest law in regard to a land purchase on Bangkok's Ratchadapisek Road by his then wife.
The prosecutor's team, given a few days to work on the extradition pact in Hong Kong, is scheduled to report its progress to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva next Friday.
Mr. Sirisak declined to comment whether or not his mission will be successful, but said the Hong Kong authorities had so far expressed a genuine interest in forging the extradition treaty with Thailand. (TNA)
Thai authorities have been frustrated by reports of Mr. Thaksin's frequent visits to China's Special Administrative Region, where he is currently legally free to stay and go about his business, and Thai authorities are anxious to bring the globetrotting Thaksin back home to serve a two-year jail term handed down by the Supreme Court last year.
Sirisak Tiyaphan, Director-General of Thailand’s Office of the Attorney General’s department of foreign litigation, said he will lead a team of government officials to Hong Kong on Tuesday (March 17) to make the necessary arrangements for an extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong.
The ex-premier, removed from power in a military coup in September 2006, was found guilty by the Supreme Court last year of violating Thailand’s conflict of interest law in regard to a land purchase on Bangkok's Ratchadapisek Road by his then wife.
The prosecutor's team, given a few days to work on the extradition pact in Hong Kong, is scheduled to report its progress to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva next Friday.
Mr. Sirisak declined to comment whether or not his mission will be successful, but said the Hong Kong authorities had so far expressed a genuine interest in forging the extradition treaty with Thailand. (TNA)
