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Thaksin Shinawatra pleads not guilty in Thai court

Deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra pleaded not guilty yesterday to corruption charges, in the first case assembled by military-backed investigators to reach court.

Thaksin said little during the 20-minute hearing before the Supreme Court, which was packed with hundreds of his supporters who filled the courtroom and spilled out onto the steps outside.

After a judge read out the charges, accusing Thaksin of using his political influence to win his wife a sweetheart property deal, he was asked if he pleaded not guilty.

Thaksin simply replied: "Yes."

The court also said that Thaksin would not have to attend every hearing in his trial.

The billionaire had requested that the trial proceed in his absence so that he could travel overseas to tend to his investments, particularly the English Premier League club Manchester City, which he bought last year.

Thaksin has already been granted court permission to travel to Britain for a month and is expected to leave Thailand later in the week.

Thaksin's arraignment came less than two weeks after his jubilant return to Thailand, ending nearly 18 months in self-imposed exile following the 2006 military-backed coup against him.

"Today we have denied all charges," his lawyer Pichit Cheunban said. "We are confident that we can answer all questions and defend against any accusations by the prosecutors."

Pichit said Thaksin requested permission not to attend every hearing so that his travel plans would not hold up the case.

"Sometimes Thaksin will be busy and unable to attend the hearings. So we asked for the trial to begin in his absence so that the proceedings will not be held up," Pichit said.

Wearing a black suit with a white shirt, Thaksin did not talk to reporters as he left the court, but greeted the hundreds of supporters who waited outside to cheer him.

Thaksin and his wife each face up to 13 years in prison over two graft charges alleging she used his political influence to buy prime Bangkok property in 2003 from a government agency at about one-third of its estimated value.

No charges have been filed over blockbuster scandals like his family's tax-free sale of his telecom giant Shin Corp, although US$2 billion in suspected profits from the deal have been frozen pending a close to the investigation.

Since Thaksin's allies swept back into power in elections late last year, doubts have grown over how successful prosecutors will be in pursuing him.

Also See: Thaksin tells Thailand to cut rates, boost spending
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