Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday that former
prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could not be brought back to face prosecution
in Thailand because all the cases against him stemmed from the 2006 coup.
Chalerm was responding to
Democrat MP Sathit Pitutecha, who reminded the House of Representatives that
Thaksin was wanted in relation to many cases, including alleged irregularities
in relation to money lent by Krung Thai Bank to Krisda Mahanakorn.
However, the deputy premier
defended Thaksin by saying that such demands were inappropriate because all the
cases against Thaksin, including the one related to the Krung Thai Bank, had
been initiated by the Assets Examination Committee, which was created by the
coup-makers.
Chalerm added that he refused to
recognise the legitimacy of the coup-makers.
"Thaksin is being dragged
into these issues through slander. Let me reiterate that this government has
been strictly adhering to the law, but on this matter it does not have any
power.
"Let me ask a question: in
the case of the Ratchadaphisek land purchase, [Thaksin's] wife bought the land,
but you convicted the husband?
"No other country would do
this, only Thailand.
"So, I will not seek his
extradition. When Thailand has better rules, and not just those that admire the
court, then I will ask Thaksin to return," Chalerm said.
He also said that he did not need
to explain when and where he met the former leader because it was a private
matter and that the opposition Democrat Party was welcome to file a censure
motion against him.
Sathit, meanwhile, accused the
government of engaging in preferential treatment and being selective in terms
of using the law, adding that the Office of the Attorney-General had the right
to seek Thaksin's extradition.
Chalerm responded by saying that
if Thaksin is a criminal, then the Department of Special Investigation would
definitely try to arrest him.
Separately, Democrat Party's
deputy leader, Korn Chatikavanij, cast doubts over the authenticity of
Thaksin's signature on a document used to file libel suits against four
Democrat MPs over the "men-in-black" issue.
Korn said it would be a serious
violation of the law if the signature was found to have been faked by Thaksin's
legal team.
News Desk
Business & Investment Opportunities
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