“The Supreme Court decided on Tuesday to suspend a corruption case relating to the Ratchadaphisek land deal against ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman until prosecutors bring them back to court.
“The court decided to suspend the case and the trial will resume when the two defendants are found,” chief judge Thonglor Chomngam said.
The decision by the Supreme Court’s criminal division came after the couple refused to attend the first hearing on the case over the purchase of a 772 million baht land plot.
The couple, currently living in London, face arrest warrants with Thai public prosecutors trying to get the couple extradited back to Thailand.
“Although the plaintiff has claimed that the extradition process will take about 90 days, there is no clear indication when the two defendants will be presented in court,” said the judge.
If convicted, Mr Thaksin could face up to 10 years in jail.” (Bangkok Post)
I see 2 differents interpretations of this asthonishing news :
-it’s a serious blow for the Junta, regarding its fight against Thaksin.
-it’s the perfect thai compromise : because the UK will never extradite Thaksin, the case will be never be resumed… And furthermore, it will prevent Thaksin… to come back in Thailand. Ever.
I should add that this land case was one of the most “obvious”, with solid charges, regarding the corruption of the ex-Prime Minister, and one of the easiest to understand and analyse…
Too bad.


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