Thai court will open ex-PM case
Mr Thaksin has stayed away from Thailand since the coup
Thailand's Supreme Court has agreed to hear corruption charges against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mr Thaksin and his wife Pojaman were named in a case involving allegations of wrongdoing in a land deal. Mr Thaksin, who has lived abroad since he was ousted in a military coup last September, has denied any wrongdoing.
If convicted, the couple could be jailed for up to 13 years each and face a fine. The first hearing will start on 14 August.
"The Supreme Court political crime section accepts the case," Tonglor Chomngarm, the Supreme Court's deputy head, told reporters.
The charges relate to the purchase of a plot of land in Bangkok by Mr Thaksin's wife Pojaman, for 772m baht ($24m; £12m).
The land, owned by a government agency, had earlier been valued at 2.1bn baht (£32m, $66m).
Mr Thaksin is accused of illegally influencing the deal.
Mr Thaksin and his wife will now reportedly be required to attend opening arguments.
However, Mr Thaksin said last month that he would only return to Thailand to face corruption charges if he could be sure of a fair trial.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6286660.stm*******
ติดหมาย ถ้าไม่มีคนรับ ทำตัวให้ว่าง อย่าลืมวันที่ 14 สค. มีนัด
