September 16, 2008
Bangkok - The Supreme Court issued a new arrest warrant for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for his loan grant to Myanmar.
The case hearing would not take place unless Thaksin returned from the United Kingdom where he fled to avoid prosecution for all charges.
He claimed all accusations were politically motivated.
"Today is the first hearing and the defendent failed to appear even though he has received a summons," judge Panya Suthibodi said.
The court reasoned that the arrest warrant was issued because it was not known when the defendant would come back.
The case will temporarily be suspended.
Thaksin was said to order the Exim Bank to increase the loan from three to four billion baht so that Myanmar could buy more services from ShinSat.
Last month, the court issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin and his wife Pojaman concerning the Ratchada land scandal.
They both skipped bail and flew to Britain before the date they had to appear before the court.
The court is expected to give its verdict in that case on September 17.
