BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Thailand's Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to hear a corruption case against ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra over alleged wrongdoing in a land deal, in the top court's first case against the exiled former premier.
Thaksin, who has lived overseas since his government was toppled in a military coup last September, is charged with corruption, conflict of interest and dereliction of duty for personal gain in the case, involving a multimillion-dollar plot of land in central Bangkok.
"The Supreme Court political crime section accepts the case, and sets the first hearing for August 14," Thongloh Chomngam, chief of the nine judges, read from a prepared statement.
Thaksin's wife Pojamarn is also named in the case, and the court ordered them both to appear in court for the first hearing.
Noppadol Pattama, the lawyer and de-facto spokesman for Thaksin and his family, reiterated previous statements that Thaksin will not return to face trial.
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"I fear that my client will not get a fair trial because the judicial system in Thailand has been interfered with by some powerful groups, and I also fear for his safety," Noppadol told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
Thaksin, prime minister from 2001-2006, was ousted by the military after demonstrations calling for him to step down because of alleged corruption and abuse of power. Another controversial business deal by his family, the $1.9 billion sale last year of telecommunications company Shin Corp. to a Singapore state investment company, contributed to public discontent
"The Supreme Court political crime section accepts the case, and sets the first hearing for August 14," Thongloh Chomngam, chief of the nine judges, read from a prepared statement.
Thaksin's wife Pojamarn is also named in the case, and the court ordered them both to appear in court for the first hearing.
Noppadol Pattama, the lawyer and de-facto spokesman for Thaksin and his family, reiterated previous statements that Thaksin will not return to face trial.
Don't miss
Thaksin charged with corruption
"I fear that my client will not get a fair trial because the judicial system in Thailand has been interfered with by some powerful groups, and I also fear for his safety," Noppadol told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
Thaksin, prime minister from 2001-2006, was ousted by the military after demonstrations calling for him to step down because of alleged corruption and abuse of power. Another controversial business deal by his family, the $1.9 billion sale last year of telecommunications company Shin Corp. to a Singapore state investment company, contributed to public discontent
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