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Ex-Thai PM's wife guilty of fraud Ex-Thai PM's wife guilty of fraud
(41 minutes later)
The wife of Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been convicted of tax fraud by a Bangkok court. The wife of Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to three years in jail for tax fraud.
Pojaman Shinawatra was sentenced to three years in prison, in the first of a series of cases against the family. Pojaman Shinawatra was granted bail by a Bangkok court in the first of several cases against the former first 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 secretary were also found guilty of evading tax of 546m baht ($16.3m) in a 1997 shares transfer 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 ex-PM himself, deposed in a 2006 coup, is being tried in the Supreme Court for alleged corruption.
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. Pojaman Shinawatra's brother, Bannapot Damapong, was also sentenced to three years, while her secretary was handed a two-year sentence.
Seconds after the ruling, she reportedly walked over to pat her husband on the back. He was deposed in a military coup in 2006. The trio were freed on bail of 5m baht ($149,000) each on Thursday, pending an appeal.
Mr Thaksin's wife, who is his most important political and business partner, looked stunned as the court delivered its verdict.
Seconds after the ruling, she reportedly walked over to pat her husband on the back.
Hundreds of supporters mobbed the family as they left the courtHundreds of supporters mobbed the family as they left the court
Mr Thaksin's spokesman, Pongthep Thepkanjana, said the family would appeal and "fight to the end".Mr Thaksin's spokesman, Pongthep Thepkanjana, said the family would appeal and "fight to the end".
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".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".
More than 1,000 supporters carrying roses and banners mobbed the family as they left the court.More than 1,000 supporters carrying roses and banners mobbed the family as they left the court.
About 300 riot police were deployed in the area amid concerns of possible protests but there was no trouble.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. Mr Thaksin 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.
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. Unlike his wife, he will not be able to appeal if convicted.
His party, Thai Rak Thai, was outlawed after the military coup, and Mr Thaksin was banned from politics for five years.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.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. After Thai authorities froze more than $2bn (£1bn) of his family's assets pending corruption cases against him, he is now reportedly worth $400m (£200m).
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says many Thais doubted this powerful and wealthy couple would ever be convicted but those doubts have now been swept aside.
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 the cases pile up 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.