The wife of ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was charged yesterday with evading millions of dollars in taxes, opening the first corruption case involving the ousted leader's inner circle since a September coup.
Pojaman Shinawatra, her brother and secretary were arraigned at the Bangkok Criminal Court and then released after posting bail of 15 million baht (US$476,000), said her attorney, Nopadol Patama.
The court set a trial date for May 14.
The case marks the first prosecution of those close to Thaksin, who was ousted by a September military coup and accused of widespread corruption. Coup leaders had cited Thaksin's corruption as justification for his ouster and have faced strong criticism for being slow to prove their allegations, many of which remain under investigation.
Pojaman, who could face prison time if found guilty, made no comment to reporters as she was escorted by dozens of police from the courthouse and into a dark sedan. More than 100 police were deployed in the area amid concerns over possible protests by both supporters and opponents of Thaksin, police Captain Somsak Wimanrat said.
The family's attorney said the trio planned to plead not guilty and defense preparations were under way.
"We are preparing the best tax lawyers to fight this case in court," Nopadol told reporters.
The case centers on a 1997 transfer of shares in the family telecommunications empire later known as Shin Corp.
An investigation by the Assets Examination Committee found last month that Thaksin's wife and her brother had to pay back taxes of about 546 million baht on the share transfer. The committee was appointed by coup leaders to investigate alleged corruption linked to Thaksin's administration.
Pojaman and her brother, Bhanapot Damapong, face a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison and a 400,000 baht fine each if convicted on two tax evasion counts, said Attapol Yaisawang, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office.
The secretary, Kanchanapa Honghern, would face a maximum penalty of seven years and a 200,000 baht fine because she is accused of only one charge.
Thaksin transferred shares in Shin Corp to his maid and other domestic helpers to shed holdings before taking public office. His first of two terms as prime minister began in 2001.
This case is not connected to the contentious sale last year of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings, a Singaporean state-owned company, for 73.3 billion baht. But it is being widely watched as part of the corruption allegations against Thaksin.
The Shin sale drew widespread protests because it placed strategic assets, including communications satellites, in the hands of foreigners, and because the deal was structured so that Thaksin's family did not have to pay any capital gains tax.
Thaksin's daughter Pintongta and son Phantongtae are under investigation by the Assets Examination Committee in connection with that transaction.
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