THAILAND:Pojamarn Shinawatra, wife of Thailand's former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, arrived in Bangkok yesterday to face corruption charges over a land purchase, her lawyer said.
Ms Pojamarn arrived at the capital's Suvarnabhumi airport from Hong Kong, Noppadol Pattama, a lawyer for Mr Thaksin and his family, said. She went straight to the supreme court and was freed on bail of 5 million baht ($150,000), military-owned Channel 5 TV network reported.
The supreme court issued arrest warrants for Mr Thaksin and Ms Pojamarn last year after they failed to return to Thailand to face charges over their involvement in purchasing land from the central bank. Her return comes after the People Power Party, founded by Thaksin loyalists, won most seats in the December 23rd election and began forming the new government.
Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006, said last month that he will return as early as February. "Pojamarn always had the intention to return to Thailand, her motherland," said Mr Noppadol. "She just made her decision to return a few days ago because she thinks it's the right time after Thailand returned to democracy."
The corruption charges were brought against the couple by the asset examination committee, a body appointed by the junta that toppled Mr Thaksin. Prosecutors allege he and Ms Pojamarn breached an anti-corruption law that bans a spouse from entering into a contract with a government department under the direct supervision of a partner.
Ms Pojamarn allegedly purchased land from the central bank's financial institutional development fund in 2003 for 772 million baht. Prosecutors say the bank's financial bail-out unit was under the direct supervision of Mr Thaksin, allowing him to influence its decision to sell the land to his wife.
The PPP campaigned on pledges to return Mr Thaksin from exile and continue his policies. Mr Thaksin said on December 25th that he will return as a "normal citizen" and stay out of politics. - (Bloomberg)