Bangkok - Thailand's Supreme Court was poised Tuesday to
make a pivotal ruling for Thailand's political stability as it began
reading its verdict in an abuse of power case involving former
premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Judges of the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders are to
decide whether Thaksin abused his position as prime minister in 2003
in allowing his wife, Pojaman, to bid on 5.3 hectares of land in
central Bangkok at a government auction.
The prime piece of real estate was awarded to Pojaman for 772
million baht (22.7 million dollars), the highest of three bids.
If found guilty, Thaksin and his wife could face up to 10 years in
prison.
The former first couple are living in self-imposed exile in
London, where they fled August 10, days after the Bangkok Criminal
Court sentenced her to three years in jail for tax evasion.
Thaksin - who was toppled in a bloodless military coup in
September 2006 on accusations of mass corruption, dividing the nation
and undermining the institutions of democracy and the monarchy - has
yet to be found guilty in a court.
If found guilty Tuesday, it would increase the likelihood of
Thaksin and his family staying abroad indefinitely to avoid jail
sentences in Thailand.
Thaksin, a former billionaire telecommunications tycoon who was
prime minister from 2001 to 2006, remains a divisive figure in Thai
society.
Thaksin introduced populist policies to Thailand's long tradition
of money politics, winning himself a strong following among the
country's rural and urban poor, many of whom continue to see him as
their champion.
Despite living in exile, Thaksin is known to be the prime mover
behind the People Power Party (PP), which leads the current
government and came to power in December general elections on an
unabashedly pro-Thaksin platform.
The possibility of a Thaksin political comeback has prompted the
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), an alliance of anti-government
groups, to hold protests in Bangkok since May, culminating with its
seizure in August of Government House, the seat of the executive
branch of the government.
Despite the protestors' increasingly illegal behaviour, the
government has been powerless to end the PAD demonstrations, which
have the backing of powerful figures within the Bangkok political
elite
A government crackdown on the PAD on October 7, which left two PAD
followers dead and more than 400 injured, prompted the
commander-in-chief of Thailand's army, General Anupong Pasojinda, to
call for the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat as a
show of responsibilityy for the violence.
Somchai, Thaksin's brother-in-law, has so far turned down the
general's suggestion.
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