Thai immigration blacklists ousted leader

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai authorities on Thursday placed ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on an immigration blacklist, ordering their immediate arrest if they try to enter the country, police said.

The order came two days after the Supreme Court issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and his wife Pojaman for failing to obey a summons to appear before judges to hear corruption charges.

Thaksin, who has settled in Britain where he has taken over Premiership football club Manchester City since being toppled in a coup last year, is under fire along with his wife Pojaman for allegedly snapping up prime Bangkok real estate at bargain prices.

"The names of Thaksin and his wife are now on the Thai immigration blacklist because they are suspects in a criminal case," acting national police chief Sereepisut Taemeeyaves told reporters after a meeting with prosecutors.

"If he and his wife enter Thailand at any checkpoint, they will be arrested unless they surrender themselves to police first," he added.

Thaksin and Pojaman are each charged with two violations of anti-corruption laws. Each could be jailed for up to 13 years and face a fine of up to 200,000 baht (6,250 dollars) if convicted.

Thaksin is accused of illegally influencing a deal in 2003 to allow Pojaman to buy prime Bangkok real estate from a government agency for the bargain price of 772 million baht (22.7 million US dollars), about one-third its estimated value.

Both have denied the charges, but have refused to return to Thailand to defend themselves in court, saying they fear for their safety under the military-installed government.

Sereepisut insisted police would guarantee his safety if he returned to the kingdom.

"I want to tell Thaksin and his wife that police will do our utmost to guarantee their safety. They shouldn't fear for their lives," he said.

The Supreme Court has given Thaksin and Pojaman until September 25 to turn themselves into police. If they fail to appear, prosecutors could file an extradition request with Britain.

Britain and Thailand have an extradition treaty, but the process is often lengthy and would require British courts to approve the request.

The outcome of the case against Thaksin could affect his ownership of Manchester City. If he were convicted, the English Premier League could reconsider whether he is still a "fit and proper" owner.