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| Ex-Thai PM's wife guilty of fraud | Ex-Thai PM's wife guilty of fraud |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The wife of Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to three years in jail for tax fraud. | The wife of Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to three years in jail for tax fraud. |
| Pojaman Shinawatra was granted bail by a Bangkok court in the first of several cases against the former first family. | Pojaman Shinawatra was granted bail by a Bangkok court in the first of several cases against the former first family. |
| 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. | 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 ex-PM himself, deposed in a 2006 coup, is being tried in the Supreme Court for alleged corruption. | The ex-PM himself, deposed in a 2006 coup, is being tried in the Supreme Court for alleged corruption. |
| 'Politically motivated' | 'Politically motivated' |
| Pojaman Shinawatra's brother, Bannapot Damapong, was also sentenced to three years, while her secretary was handed a two-year sentence. | Pojaman Shinawatra's brother, Bannapot Damapong, was also sentenced to three years, while her secretary was handed a two-year sentence. |
| The trio were freed on bail of 5m baht ($149,000) each on Thursday, pending an appeal. | 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. | 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. | Seconds after the ruling, she reportedly walked over to pat her husband on the back. |
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| Pojaman Shinawatra makes her way into 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 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. | 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. |
| Unlike his wife, he will not be able to appeal if convicted. | 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. |
| 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). | 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. | 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. |