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March 12, 2008

Ex-Thai PM Enters Not Guilty Plea on Corruption Charges
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B84F2F:A6F02AD83191E1603A0B930A2E75AE6D98CBE7246176B735& Deposed Thai Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra entered his plea Wednesday before a Thai
Supreme Court judge Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has
pleaded innocent to one of three corruption charges filed against him.







Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, left, sits before a
court session at supreme court in Bangkok, Thailand, 12 Mar 2008Mr.
Thaksin entered his plea Wednesday before a Thai Supreme Court judge.
He is accused of using his office to win a property deal for his wife.

Mr. Thaksin returned to Thailand on February 26, 17 months after he
was deposed in a bloodless military coup. He was immediately arrested
and taken to the Supreme Court to face charges on the real estate
deal. The court barred him from leaving Thailand without permission.

Mr. Thaksin has received the court's permission to travel to Britain
on Thursday.

The ex-premier is also facing separate charges of withholding
information about his holdings in a real estate company, and of
illegal use of funds from a state lottery.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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