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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thaksin wife charged in tax case | Thaksin wife charged in tax case |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The wife of the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been charged with tax evasion. | The wife of the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been charged with tax evasion. |
| Pojaman Shinawatra was charged, along with her brother and her secretary, at Bangkok Criminal Court before being released on bail. | Pojaman Shinawatra was charged, along with her brother and her secretary, at Bangkok Criminal Court before being released on bail. |
| The case relates to the transfer of shares in 1997 in a family telecoms firm, now known as Shin Corp. | The case relates to the transfer of shares in 1997 in a family telecoms firm, now known as Shin Corp. |
| Mr Thaksin was ousted in a coup last September amid allegations of corruption, which he denied. | Mr Thaksin was ousted in a coup last September amid allegations of corruption, which he denied. |
| This is the first of dozens of investigations into the allegations, being carried out by the Thai military government, to come to court. | This is the first of dozens of investigations into the allegations, being carried out by the Thai military government, to come to court. |
| Protests | |
| More than 100 police officers were deployed around the court as Pojaman Shinawatra arrived, making no comment to reporters as she entered the courtroom. | More than 100 police officers were deployed around the court as Pojaman Shinawatra arrived, making no comment to reporters as she entered the courtroom. |
| Pojaman Shinawatra and her brother are accused of avoiding paying tax in the transfer of 4.5 million shares in a firm, founded by Mr Thaksin, that became Shin Corp. | |
| They could face jail sentences of up to 14 years as well as fines if found guilty. | They could face jail sentences of up to 14 years as well as fines if found guilty. |
| Pojaman Shinawatra's brother Bhanapot Damapong has already been ordered by anti-corruption investigators to pay 546 million baht (around $17m) in back taxes over the deal. | |
| He has argued that the shares were given to him as a gift from Pojaman Shinawatra and were therefore not subject to tax. | |
| Pojaman Shinawatra's secretary is charged with helping to facilitate the transfer. | |
| The charges facing the three are not related to the Thaksin family's controversial sale of its controlling stake in Shin Corp to a Singapore state investment firm in January 2006. | |
| The tax free deal, which netted the family nearly $2bn, sparked widespread protests and calls for Mr Thaksin to resign. | The tax free deal, which netted the family nearly $2bn, sparked widespread protests and calls for Mr Thaksin to resign. |