Thaksin arrest warrant issued

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's return to Thailand was complicated yesterday by the issuing of a second arrest warrant against him.

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Thaksin arrest warrant issued

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Bloomberg photo of former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

A warrant for the arrest of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been issued by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

The warrant, issued on Wednesday, is connected to a case involving 11.58 billion baht in loans from state-owned Krung Thai Bank.

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) filed malfeasance charges against Thaksin and 26 others, including the former KTB president Viroj Nualkair.

The case involves a batch of KTB loans provided to the affiliates of Krisdamahanakorn Plc, a major property and real estate firm.

According to the charges, KTB approved large loans to the firm's affiliates, despite Krisdamahanakorn being classified as a non-performing debtor of the bank.

All of the defendants, except Thaksin, appeared before the court and denied the charges.

The court issued a warrant for Thaksin's arrest, and temporarily shelved the suit against him. The lawsuit can be renewed when Thaksin is brought to the court, a judge said.

The court set Jan 25 of next year for the examination of evidence.

Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser yesterday said his boss does not accept the Supreme Court's decision to issue a warrant for his arrest in the Krung Thai Bank loan case. 

He had never had any involvement in the KTB's approving of loans to Krisdamahanakorn Plc, Mr Nappadon said.

"Thaksin remains overseas and also remains firm that he will not accept the consequences of the coup d'état [on Sept 19, 2006]," Mr Noppadon said.

He said his boss will not accept any cases launched by the now-defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) because they were his political adversary.

"He [Thaksin] wants his cases to be carried out in a legal manner. Thaksin must receive equal rights as other Thai people.

The deposed premier knew about the arrest warrant from the internet and he was now in Moscow and will travel to England later, he added.

arrest warrant – a document signed by a judge allowing police to arrest someone หมายจับ
issue – to officially give out  ออก
Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions – a trial court in a case where the Prime Minister, a minister, member of the House of Representatives, senator or other political official is accused of becoming unusually wealthy, committing crimes with in office, performing duties dishonestly, or being corrupted according to other laws.  ศาลฎีกา แผนกคดีอาญาของผู้ดำรงตำแหน่งทางการเมือง
connected – linked เชื่อมต่อ เชื่อมโยง
involve – to be an important or necessary part or result of something เกี่ยวพัน, พัวพัน
loan – an amount of money that a person, business, or country borrows, especially from a bank เงินกู้
state – government รัฐบาล
Attorney-General – the top legal officer in some countries, who advises the leader of the government อัยการสูงสุด
file – to take official action like making a complaint  ยื่น
malfeasance – illegal actions, especially by a person in authority การใช้อำนาจไปในทางที่ผิด
charge – an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime ข้อหา
batch – a group of things considered similar in type พวก, ชุด, กลุ่ม
property – land owned by someone ที่ดิน, อสังหาริมทรัพย์
real estate – property อสังหาริมทรัพย์
firm – a business or company บริษัท
affiliate – a company, an organisation, etc. that is connected with or controlled by another, larger one บริษัทในเครือ, กิจการในเครือ, สาขา
classify – to divide things into groups according to their type จัดประเภท
non-performing – involving loans that have not been repaid and which are not expected to be repaid หนี้เสีย
debtor – a person who owes money ลูกหนี้
defendant – someone who has been accused of a crime and is/will be on trial จำเลย
appear – to go to a place and be seen there ปรากฏตัว
deny – to say that you did not do something that someone has accused you of doing ปฏิเสธ
temporarily – for a limited period of time ชั่วคราว
shelve – to decide not to use something such as a plan or suggestion now, although you may use it later เลื่อนไปก่อน
lawsuit – a claim or complaint against somebody that a person or an organisation can make in court คดีความ, คดีในศาล
renew – to start something again เริ่มใหม่
evidence – facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not someone has committed a crime หลักฐาน
legal – relating to the law or lawyers เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
adviser – a person who gives advice, especially somebody who knows a lot about a particular subject ที่ปรึกษา
approve – to give official permission อนุมัต
overseas – connected with foreign countries, especially those separated from your country by the sea or ocean เกี่ยวกับต่างประเทศ, ข้ามทะเล
firm – definite and not likely to change แน่นอน, แน่วแน่
consequences – results of effects of something ผลที่ตามมา
coup d’etat – the seizure of power in a country by a group of people, usually members of the armed forces รัฐประหาร
launch – to start something เริ่มต้น เริ่มทำ
defunct – no longer existing, operating or being used ถูกยุบ, หยุดทำงาน
Assets Scrutiny Committee – a committee set up after the 2007 coup to investigate wealth obtained illegally by politicians คตส. (คณะกรรมการตรวจสอบการกระทำที่ก่อให้เกิดความเสียหายต่อรัฐ )
adversary – an enemy or opponent ศัตรู
deposed – forced from a position of power ที่ถูกปลด ไล่ออกจากตำแหน่ง