Thai Supreme Court orders Thaksin arrest warrant

Bangkok, Aug 14 (UNI) Thailand's Supreme Court today issued arrest warrants for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife for non-compliance with a court summons to answer corruption charges.

The nine-judge panel ordered him to be present in the court by September 25, the starting date of the trial of Thaksin and his wife, following his failure to appear before the court under fixed deadlines.

Mr Thaksin's lawyer pleaded before the court for an extension of the deadline for the former Thai head of government in non-compliance with the summons issued one month ago, citing his security would be jeopardised.'' The current situation is not good for their security and we have no desire to see disunity in the country,''he said.

However, the court rejected Mr Thaksin's plea citing personal safety concerns, if he were to return to Thailand.

Prosecuter Seksan Bangsomboon told reporters extradition proceedings would be considered if Thaksin failed to appear before the court by the new deadlines.

One of the Thailand's wealthiest person, Mr Thaksin, a former telecom tycoon, had headed the country's first democratically elected government and led his now disbanded Thai Rak Thai party to three successive wins in national parliament elections.

He was unseated on the night of September 19 last year in a bloodless military coup following months of massive street protests in Bangkok against alleged corruption charges and cronyism in his government.

Mr Thaksin who was then in the United States to address the UN General Assembly has not returned to the Thailand since, preferring to stay in self-imposed exile in London.

Following the military takeover, the new rulers of Bangkok had publicly warned the ousted leader to stay away from his home country for the sake of national reconciliation and had also referred to concerns for his security if he were to return.

UNI