Thai ex-premier-in-exile to stay away from home, lawyer says

Jun 26, 2007, 9:55 GMT

Bangkok - Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will not return to Thailand this week to face police charges and corruption cases, citing fears for his security and a lack of democracy in the country, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin's Bangkok-based lawyer and unofficial spokesman, said the ousted-premier-in-exile will stay away from Thailand until after a general election is held in November or December of this year.

Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has given Thaksin and his wife Potjaman until this Friday to return to Thailand to hear charges that they deliberately concealed their share-hoildings in SC Assets, a listed company of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).

If Thaksin and Potjaman miss the deadline, the DSI has threatened to issue arrest warrants for the once powerful couple and possibly seek their extradition.

Thaksin has been residing primarily in London since he was overthrown by a military coup on September 19, 2006, on charges of corruption and dividing the nation. Potjaman, who ran his business empire while Thaksin was premier between 2001 to 2006, is in Singapore, allegedly receiving medical treatment.

The billionaire former premier is currently finalizing a 81.6 million pound (169 million dollar) purchase of England's Manchester City football club.

Thai media has speculated that the purchase of the financially struggling team was timed to enhance Thaksin's chances of avoiding extradition from England, should Thai authorities push for it.

Noppodol said Thaksin was not planning to return soon because Thailand was still under the rule of the military junta that ousted him and he feared for his safety.

He added that he did not trust Thailand's judicial system in the current circumstances.