Thai court to hear Thaksin case

The first of a series of corruption cases being brought against the former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, is due to begin in Bangkok.

Mr Thaksin was ousted by a military coup last year.

He is ordered to appear at the Supreme Court to hear charges he abused his power by helping his wife buy land from a state agency at a favourable price.

Mr Thaksin, who now owns Manchester City FC and lives in Britain, will be represented in Bangkok by his lawyers.

Alleged corruption under Mr Thaksin's administration was one of the main justifications given by the generals who mounted the coup, but it has proved difficult bringing the cases to court.

'No temptation'

When he was first elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra insisted his immense personal wealth offered a clear advantage - there would be no temptation, he said, to repeat the corruption endemic in previous governments.

But a special committee set up to investigate Mr Thaksin after last year's coup believes that under him a number of abuses did take place - the first case is now being heard by the Supreme Court, which is responsible for trying political office-holders.

The prosecution argues that Mr Thaksin violated anti-corruption laws when he helped his wife to buy land in one of Bangkok's prime locations four years ago, from a government agency.

Mr Thaksin's lawyers say he did not have a direct supervisory role over the agency, so there was no conflict of interest.

There are at least 12 other cases of alleged corruption being investigated.

The most serious allegations are that he concealed his real assets through a complex network of off-shore companies, and that his policies helped enrich his family's giant telecoms business.

Mr Thaksin's lawyers have denied all the charges, describing them as attempts by his political opponents to discredit him.

If convicted on any of the charges he could face years in prison.

The cases also have a bearing on his recent purchase of the English football club Manchester City, as the Premier League's own rules prohibit anyone with convictions for fraud or bribery from owning a club.

Source: BBC Sport