Thai court to try Thaksin for hiding wealth

Asian Economic News, Jan 22, 2001

BANGKOK, Jan. 18 Kyodo

Thailand's Constitutional Court decided Thursday to try telecom tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's prime minister-in-waiting, for failing to disclose assets worth about 2.37 billion baht ($56 million) while he was deputy prime minister in 1997 and again a year after he left office.

Thaksin, whose Thai Rak Thai Party won a historic landslide in the Jan. 6 general election, sweeping more than half the seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, was indicted by the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) on Tuesday.

Constitutional Court President Prasert Nasakul told a news conference the 15-member court reached a unanimous decision Thursday to accept the antigraft watchdog's indictment, although one of the 15 members was absent.

Prasert said the court would inform Thaksin, 51, about the decision and he would be given 15 days to submit a defense to counter the NCCC indictment. The NCCC can also submit additional evidence and documents before the trial begins.

Prasert did not, however, give any date for a first trial session.

The court president also emphasized that all 15 constitutional court judges would be prohibited from giving interviews to press or making any public comment before the court rules.

He said Thaksin is expected to be the next premier and ''should be respected, his dignity protected.''

The court, he added, will handle the case in an ''honest and independent'' manner.

If found guilty, Thaksin could be banned from political office for five years.

On Dec. 26, the nine-member NCCC ruled 8-1 Thaksin was guilty of deliberately hiding assets.

It is expected Thaksin will be nominated as prime minister by the middle of February, but Chun Atirek, a constitutional court judge, said earlier the court would not be swayed by Thaksin's status.

The official announcement of the Jan. 6 general election results has been delayed, the Election Commission of Thailand saying Thursday the 400 constituency results are expected now between Jan. 21 and 26.

The authority also said it planned to call for re-votes in some constituencies where there was poll cheating or vote buying.

The election commission is obliged to endorse results of 400 direct seats and another 100 party seats within 30 days of the Jan. 6 election.

Thaksin was quoted earlier this week as saying a trial will not bar him from assuming the country's leadership, partly because the trial might take up to several years.