Thai prosecutors charge ousted Premier Thaksin

THAILAND: Thai prosecutors Thursday laid formal criminal corruption charges against Thaksin Shinawatra in the first case against the ousted premier to reach court since last September's coup.

The charges against Thaksin and his wife Pojaman centre on a controversial land purchase in 2003.

They were each charged with three violations of anti-corruption laws on accusations that Thaksin illegally influenced the deal to allow Pojaman to buy the land from a government agency at a bargain price. "Prosecutors have filed a case against Thaksin, who is the first defendant, and Pojaman as the second defendant," prosecutor Nanthasak Poonsuk told reporters.

Prosecutors read the charges before the Supreme Court, where a special panel of judges tasked with hearing political crimes will consider them.

The judges said they would decide on July 10 whether to accept the case.

If it goes ahead, prosecutors would be required to present Thaksin and his wife in person during the opening arguments.

Thaksin has been in exile since he was ousted last year, while his wife was hospitalised in Singapore earlier this week. If the Shinawatras fail to appear, the court could throw out the case.

At the end of the trial, neither side would be able to appeal the verdict.

Bangkok, Thursday, AP