July 3, 2008
BANGKOK - The Supreme Court has rejected ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s plea to travel to China and Britain as his first corruption case is set to go to trial.
Thaksin has made several trips to Britain where he owns the Manchester City Premier League football club, while also travelling around Asia.
His lawyer contacted the court on June 24 for the overseas trips.
But the court did not approve his request, reasoning Thaksin did not provide enough reasons to support his travels.
"The judge ruled that while the court is in the process of deliberations, receiving testimony and other evidence, his request for travel was not justified," a court official said, in the first public comments on the issue.
It was reported Thaksin planned to first travel to Britain and China. He would later travel to Japan as well.
The former prime minister faces corruption charges accusing him of using his power to arrange a bargain property deal for his wife. Both Thaksin and his wife Pojaman Shinawatra deny any wrongdoing.
