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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 Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been convicted of tax fraud by a Bangkok court.
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.
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.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.
Pojaman Shinawatra's brother, Bannapot Damapong, was also 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 motivated 'Politically motivated'
Mr Thaksin's wife, who is his most important political and business partner, looked stunned as the court found her guilty.Mr Thaksin's wife, who is his most important political and business partner, looked stunned as the court found her guilty.
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". Seconds after the ruling, she reportedly walked over to pat her husband on the back. He was deposed in a military coup in 2006.
Mr Thaksin has always denied any wrongdoing by his family in this case and several other lawsuits filed against them. Hundreds of supporters mobbed the family as they left the court
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. Mr Thaksin's spokesman, Pongthep Thepkanjana, said the family would appeal and "fight to the end".
His party, Thai Rak Thai, was outlawed following the coup, and Mr Thaksin was banned from politics for five years. A judge read out the verdicts in a televised ruling, saying that she should have been "a good role model as the wife of the prime minister".
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the outlook looks grim for Mr Thaksin, who made a triumphant return from exile in March. More than 1,000 supporters carrying roses and banners mobbed the family as they left the court.
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. About 300 riot police were deployed in the area amid concerns of possible protests but there was no trouble.
Mr Thaksin himself is being prosecuted in the Supreme Court for alleged abuse of power. Unlike his wife, he will not be able to appeal if convicted.
He has always denied any wrongdoing by his family in this case - and several other lawsuits filed against them - and maintains the charges are politically motivated.
His party, Thai Rak Thai, was outlawed after the military coup, and Mr Thaksin was banned from politics for five years.
He made a triumphant return from exile in March after his political allies in the People's Power Party set up a coalition government.
But the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the outlook looks grim for Mr Thaksin.
Under the new constitution brought in by the military last year the judiciary was given increased authority to hold politicians to account.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. Our correspondent says that as the cases pile up against the former first family, the judiciary is now being seen as perhaps the most powerful institution in the country.