Barkar Nash (Page 1,058)

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra faces 10 years in prison in three cases upon returning today. But based on the court rulings, he will likely serve a maximum of five years.

The three cases are referred to as the “Shin Corp nominee” case, the two- and three-digit lottery scheme case and the Exim Bank loan case.

In the “Shin Corp nominee” case, Thaksin was accused of allowing nominees to hold shares in Shin Corporation to gain benefits in a company awarded a concession from a state agency. But he fled during the trial, so the trial was suspended. After an organic law on criminal procedures for holders of a political position took effect and allowed a trial to resume in a defendant’s absence, the trial resumed. He was guilty of two charges in this case and sentenced to five years in jail.

In the two- and three-digit lottery case, he was found guilty in absentia and given a two-year jail term. Based on the court ruling, Thaksin rushed the lottery scheme, which ran during 2003-2006, causing damage to the state.

In the last case, he was accused of malfeasance in connection with the Exim Bank of Thailand granting a 4-billion-baht loan to the Myanmar government. The court found the loan for purchasing equipment and services from Shin Satellite Company was a conflict of interest. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

Thaksin was also sentenced to two years in prison in October 2008 for a conflict of interest over a land purchase by his then-wife, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra. However, the sentence expired as he fled punishment abroad for over 10 years.

According to a source in the Court of Justice, the number of years Thaksin will spend in jail depends on the court’s order in each case. The key is if the court says the sentence in the case must be served consecutively after he completes serving the sentence in the prior case. If none of the court orders says so, he will likely spend five years in jail instead of 10. He can also seek a royal pardon in each case.

Thaksin was acquitted in 2019 in a case where he was accused of manipulating the rehabilitation plan of the Thai Petrochemical Industry (TPI) through the Ministry of Finance for his own benefit.

He also was given the benefit of the doubt in a case where he was accused by the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) of manipulating Krungthai Bank’s 9-billion-baht loan granted to Krisda Mahanakorn Group.

The NACC recently dropped charges against him and three others in a corruption case linked with Thai Airways International (THAI).

Thousands of supporters, mostly wearing red clothes, were gathering near the private jet terminal at Don Mueang airport to welcome Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday morning.

They were present together with key figures and MPs of the Pheu Thai Party and an army of local and foreign journalists at the heavily guarded airport.

It was reported that Thaksin was already on his private jet departing from Singapore and his plane was expected to land in Bangkok about 9am.

It would be his first return to the country in 15 years. Authorities planned to take him from the airport to the Supreme Court where he would undergo procedures concerning pending punishment by imprisonment.

Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008, shortly before the Supreme Court sentenced him for helping his then-wife, Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, buy prime land in the Ratchadaphisek area at a discount while prime minister.

He faces prison sentences of 10 years in three cases in which he was convicted in absentia by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Thirteen cannabis dispensaries in Phuket have been shut down by authorities after they were found to be operating without a licence, according to the province’s Public Health Office yesterday.

According to the office’s chief physician, Kusak Kukiattikoon, there are 1,701 registered cannabis-related businesses on the island, of which 1,451 are dispensaries. Out of the 1,451 shops, 502 are located in Kathu district, 222 in Thalang district, while the rest are located in Muang Phuket district.

To date, he said, the office has revoked the licences of 250 shops over various violations of the Thai Traditional Medical Professions Act.

To ensure these businesses comply with the law, Dr Kusak said officials from the province’s Public Health Office and local administrative offices carry out weekly, random inspections.

Local officials have also been told to help businesses familiarise themselves with cannabis-related laws and operating requirements, he said.

A dispensary which violates the rules will have its licence suspended for 30 days, but repeat violations will result in the revocation of said licence, Dr Kusak warned, adding those who sell cannabis without a licence face up to a year in prison and/or a 20,000-baht fine.

In related news, police have arrested a foreigner who uploaded a video online of himself promoting his dispensary in the US while pumping cannabis smoke along Soi Bangla in tambon Patong on Friday, said Pol Col Sujit Ninbodi, Patong Police Station superintendent.

The man was identified only as Angkhan, 55, a US citizen. Police gave him a warning. The police said he expressed regret for his actions, saying he did not realise what he did was against the law. He left the island on Saturday.

An academic believes that fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return to Thailand Tuesday morning as part of a move to convince senators to back Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate during the vote in parliament Tuesday afternoon.

Thanaporn Sriyankul, director of the Institute of Politics and Policy Analysis, said Thaksin will return home on Tuesday now that he feels confident Pheu Thai will succeed in forming a government.

Thaksin, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2006, is widely believed to be Pheu Thai’s de facto leader.

Mr Thanaporn said that Thaksin will have to go to jail and serve time as a “political hostage” to assure pro-military parties — the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party and the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) — that Pheu Thai is ready to work with them.

Pheu Thai and 10 parties, including the UTN and PPRP, on Monday announced their potential governing coalition with 314 House seats.

Mr Thanaporn went on to say that the Supreme Court will on Tuesday deliver a ruling on a case involving former protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, accused of corruption in a project for the construction of police stations and living quarters while he served as deputy prime minister over a decade ago.

Mr Thanaporn said if the court finds Mr Suthep guilty, he will be sent to jail. And if any reprieve or amnesty is later offered to Thaksin, Mr Suthep may receive it too, he said, adding that this will spell an end to a political conflict between political foes that has continued for over a decade.

Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political science lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said that it remains to be seen whether Thaksin will arrive Tuesday morning because the outcome of the PM vote is expected to be known in the afternoon.

The political situation will remain uncertain before the vote, and even though Pheu Thai can now forge a coalition with 314 House seats, several senators still question the qualifications of its PM candidate, Srettha Thavisin, Mr Yutthaporn said.

Thaksin’s return from self-imposed exile is scheduled for Tuesday, the same day parliament will meet to select the country’s 30th prime minister.

Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, his daughter and also a Pheu Thai PM candidate, posted on social media that her father was scheduled to land at Don Mueang Airport aboard his private jet on Tuesday at 9am.

According to a source, officials will wait for Thaksin’s arrival at the VIP landing zone. Upon arrival, he will be shown his arrest warrants before being escorted to the Police Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road before heading to the Supreme Court.

Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra will be taken to the Supreme Court to hear rulings in three cases he was convicted of before being sent to serve jail time when he returns home on Tuesday after 15 years of self-imposed exile.

His family, thousands of supporters and throngs of journalists will turn up at Don Mueang Airport, where his private jet is scheduled to land at about 9am. Thaksin reportedly flew from Dubai to Singapore on Saturday ahead of Tuesday’s trip.

National police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas on Monday confirmed Thaksin’s planned return before Thaksin himself posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “Tomorrow at 9am I request permission to return to live on the same soil and breathe the same air with Thai people.”

Judiciary spokesman Sorawit Limparangsi said on Monday Thaksin is expected to arrive at the Supreme Court opposite Sanam Luang at 10.30am to hear the ruling at which only he and his family members are permitted to be present.

The hearing will not be broadcast, and members of the press will be kept outside the court compound to ensure order, he said, adding OB trucks must be parked on the Sanam Luang side.

The answer to the question of how many years Thaksin will spend in jail remains in the court’s hands, and a press release will be issued after the hearing, according to Mr Sorawit.

Thaksin faces jail sentences of 10 years in three cases in which he was convicted in absentia by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

A source said the ex-premier will arrive on a Gulfstream jet, his latest aircraft, at the VIP landing zone, and the plane will depart Don Mueang at 10.05am. 

Pol Gen Damrongsak said on Monday police have made preparations to take Thaksin to the Supreme Court, and after his court appearance, he will be handed over to the Corrections Department and be taken to prison.

When asked about the rumour that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s younger sister, would travel to Thailand with him, Pol Gen Damrongsak said he had not been informed about her. 

Yingluck fled the country in 2017, shortly before the Supreme Court sentenced her to five years in jail for failing to halt her government’s corruption-plagued rice-pledging scheme. 

Assistant police chief Pol Lt Gen Prachuap Wongsuk said the Airports of Thailand was ready for his return to face jail time. He said crowds are expected at every stop Thaksin would make, and police would be deployed to facilitate traffic and provide security. 

Pol Lt Gen Prachuap on Monday called a meeting with representatives from agencies concerned, including the Corrections Department and the Supreme Court, to prepare for Thaksin’s journey from the airport to the prison.

The assistant police chief proceeded to inspect preparations at the Supreme Court, Bangkok Remand Prison and Don Mueang Airport after the meeting.

Bangkok Remand Prison announced on Monday that no in-person visits would be allowed on Tuesday due to Thaskin’s much-anticipated arrival and gathering of large crowds.

Several thousand of Thaksin’s die-hard supporters in the Northeast left their provinces Monday night for Bangkok. They are scheduled to meet at Don Mueang airport at 4am on Tuesday.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter who marked her 37th birthday on Monday, thanked supporters who went to the Pheu Thai Party headquarters to wish her a happy birthday and congratulated her on Thaksin’s return.

Don Mueang Airport on Monday urged media outlets that want to cover Thaksin’s return to register by 4pm on Monday and comply with some requirements to avoid disturbing passengers.

Social media was also abuzz with #Thaksinreturns and speculation about his trip, which coincides with the prime minister vote. Several observers reckoned that Thaksin’s decision to return was due to his confidence in Pheu Thai succeeding in forming a government.

Reveals another iffy deal on Sukhumvit

Chuvit Kamolvisit made fresh allegations about another irregular land deal in the Sukhumvit area on Monday, rounding off a series of exposes targeting the real estate giant once run by Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate, Srettha Thavisin.

Mr Chuvit held a press briefing on Monday on the final “episode” of his so-called “expose for the country” series.

The massage parlour tycoon claimed a land deal involving more than two rai of land in Sukhumvit Soi 12 was purchased by a proxy company connected to Sansiri, with a security guard from Mukdahan acting as a shareholder.

Checks revealed the land was bought for around 500 million baht. However, the proxy company’s account recorded the purchase price as 1.8 billion baht.

Mr Chuvit suggested the alleged concealment of the real purchase price may have allowed for a large amount of money to be misappropriated.

He also claimed the proxy firm was a shell company which operated out of a flat in Hong Kong.

“This is a well-orchestrated plan designed to deceive shareholders. It bears the hallmark of irregularities found in other similar land deals [exposed earlier],” Mr Chuvit said.

“The underlying question is whether these proxy dealings were at play, how could one bring himself to aspire to become a prime minister?” he said.

The land purchases were the result of a contractual concealment, Mr Chuvit said, adding he has written to MPs and senators warning them about what Mr Srettha was capable of doing if they elected him prime minister.

He said he has concluded his exposes against Mr Srettha and Sansiri, the company the prime ministerial candidate used to serve as CEO.

Meanwhile, Sansiri released a statement on Monday denying Mr Chuvit’s latest allegation, saying the Sukhumvit Soi 12 land was acquired in good faith and slammed Mr Chuvit for deliberately trying to mislead people with disinformation.

Uthai Uthaisangsuk, Sansiri’s Chief Operating Officer, explained Sansiri and its subsidiaries had never conspired with the seller to conduct any underhanded dealings.

The land was purchased by Sansiri for 1.7 billion baht, not 500 million, as alleged. He also dismissed the claim that the company had transferred money overseas to complete the land deal transactions.

The company also affirmed in the statement that it has adhered strictly to the law in conducting its business.

Thailand has had 217 Monkeypox (mpox) patients this year, over half of whom were diagnosed in Bangkok, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

Dr Sopon Iamsirithaworn, deputy director-general of the DDC, said that the mpox cases from July 2022 — April this year all involved foreigners. However, recent mpox cases have been mainly among the Thai population.

He said that mpox does not require sexual contact to spread. Direct skin contact, especially on rashes or swollen lymph nodes can pass on the virus.

The number of mpox cases is rising and most cases are found within homosexual communities. Dr Sopon added that many who were infected with mpox are also HIV-positive.

“Only 20 mpox cases were found in Thailand from July last year to April this year. Then, in June this year, the number rose to 50 cases and over a hundred in July. The highest-risk group is people who have unprotected sex or intimate contact with strangers,” he said.

Addressing the first mpox death in Thailand, Dr Sopon said the patient had not been aware that he was HIV-positive and had never received treatment for the virus. The mpox later worsened his immunity and led to his death.

He said that people living with HIV who also use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) do not risk developing underlying health conditions if they are infected.

Dr Sopon emphasised that most mpox cases were in major and tourist cities where it is recommended people avoid high-risk sexual behaviour.

From Jan 1-Aug 15, Thailand has seen 217 mpox cases, 30 foreigners and 187 Thai nationals.

Thailand has seen mpox cases in 19 provinces. Worst hit has been Bangkok with 134, Nonthaburi (14), and Chon Buri and Samut Prakan with 9 each.

Thirteen cannabis dispensaries in Phuket have been shut down by authorities after they were found to be operating without a licence, according to the province’s Public Health Office yesterday.

According to the office’s chief physician, Kusak Kukiattikoon, there are 1,701 registered cannabis-related businesses on the island, of which 1,451 are dispensaries. Out of the 1,451 shops, 502 are located in Kathu district, 222 in Thalang district, while the rest are located in Muang Phuket district.

To date, he said, the office has revoked the licences of 250 shops over various violations of the Thai Traditional Medical Professions Act.

To ensure these businesses comply with the law, Dr Kusak said officials from the province’s Public Health Office and local administrative offices carry out weekly, random inspections.

Local officials have also been told to help businesses familiarise themselves with cannabis-related laws and operating requirements, he said.

A dispensary which violates the rules will have its licence suspended for 30 days, but repeat violations will result in the revocation of said licence, Dr Kusak warned, adding those who sell cannabis without a licence face up to a year in prison and/or a 20,000-baht fine.

In related news, police have arrested a foreigner who uploaded a video online of himself promoting his dispensary in the US while pumping cannabis smoke along Soi Bangla in tambon Patong on Friday, said Pol Col Sujit Ninbodi, Patong Police Station superintendent.

The man was identified only as Angkhan, 55, a US citizen. Police gave him a warning. The police said he expressed regret for his actions, saying he did not realise what he did was against the law. He left the island on Saturday.