This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7534374.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Ex-Thai PM's wife guilty of fraud Ex-Thai PM's wife guilty of fraud
(about 1 hour later)
The wife of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been convicted of tax fraud by a court in Bangkok.The wife of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been convicted of tax fraud by a court in Bangkok.
Pojaman Shinawatra was sentenced to three years in prison, in the first of a series of cases against the family.Pojaman Shinawatra was sentenced to three years in prison, in the first of a series of cases against the family.
She, her brother Bannapot Damapong and her secretary were charged with trying to avoid paying 546m baht ($16.3m) in tax when transferring shares. Her brother and her secretary were also found guilty of evading tax of 546m baht ($16.3m) in a shares transfer in 1997 in the family telecoms business.
The trio were freed on bail of 5m baht ($149,000) each pending an appeal, Thai court officials said.The trio were freed on bail of 5m baht ($149,000) each pending an appeal, Thai court officials said.
Mrs Thaksin's brother was sentenced to three years in jail, while her secretary was handed a two-year sentence. Pojaman Shinawatra's brother, Bannapot Damapong, was also sentenced to three years in jail, while her secretary was handed a two-year sentence.
Politically motivatedPolitically motivated
A judge read out the verdicts in a televised ruling, saying that Mrs Thaksin "was meant to be a good role model as the wife of the prime minister". Mr Thaksin's wife, who is his most important political and business partner, looked stunned as the court found her guilty.
Mrs Thaksin remained emotionless. One of her three children present in court shook her head in dismay at the verdict. A judge read out the verdicts in a televised ruling, saying that she "was meant to be a good role model as the wife of the prime minister".
Thaksin Shinawatra has always denied any wrongdoing by his family in the tax case and several other lawsuits filed against them. Mr Thaksin has always denied any wrongdoing by his family in this case and several other lawsuits filed against them.
The military ousted him in September 2006, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power. Mr Thaksin has maintained that the charges are politically motivated. The military ousted him in September 2006, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power. But Mr Thaksin has maintained that the charges are politically motivated.
His party, Thai Rak Thai, was outlawed following the coup, and Mr Thaksin was banned from politics for five years.His party, Thai Rak Thai, was outlawed following the coup, and Mr Thaksin was banned from politics for five years.
The telecoms billionaire and owner of English football club Manchester City returned to Thailand in February after 18 months abroad, living mostly in the UK. The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the outlook looks grim for Mr Thaksin, who made a triumphant return from exile in March.
Analysts say that although widely expected, the guilty verdict will deal a blow to Mr Thaksin's ambition to clear his name and return to political life. He is being prosecuted on three counts of alleged abuse of power - and his cases are being heard by the Supreme Court. If convicted, he will not be able to appeal.
Under the new constitution brought in by the military last year the judiciary was given increased authority to hold politicians to account.
Our correspondent says that as it piles on the cases against the former first family, the judiciary is now being seen as perhaps the most powerful institution in the country.