Thai court issues arrest warrant for Thaksin

25/5 Thai court issues arrest warrant for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin on terrorism charges linked to street protests that killed 88, injured 1,800.

During an interview with Astro, Thaksin denied his involvement to the street protests in Thailand. Although Thaksin is still very rich, he faces so much trouble. Whenever there is street protests happening in Thailand, he has to leave Dubai and travel around the world so as to avoid political pressure exerted by Thailand to the country that is willing to take him.

There is an article entitled "Thaksin scales Thailand's rich list despite assets freeze" on the internet on July 10, 2008 by AFP talking about Thaksin's wealth. We produce the said article as follows:

BANGKOK (AFP) — Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has scaled Thailand's rich list despite having two billion dollars in assets frozen while he stands trial for corruption, Forbes revealed Thursday.

The billionaire, who was deposed in a 2006 military coup, is now the country's 16th richest person and 100 million dollars richer than last year, with a fortune of 400 million US dollars, according to the magazine.

But the true value of his fortune is much higher, as he had two billion US dollars in assets frozen by Thai authorities, largely from the 2006 sale of his telecoms company Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

His children, who actually held many of the Shin Corp shares, are fighting an order to pay a 789-million-dollar tax bill on the deal.

Thaksin and his wife Pojaman went on trial Tuesday on corruption charges. They stand accused of using his political office to win her a bargain on prime Bangkok property.

They face a slate of other charges both in the courts and before investigators. They have always denied any wrongdoing.

Thaksin made a fortune from Shin Corp before he entered politics. The telecom company eventually grew to include cell phones, satellites, an Internet service and even a stake in an airline.

The sale of Shin Corp ignited public discontent, resulting in months of street protests against Thaksin that eventually led to the coup that forced him from office.

Thaksin fled to Britain after his ouster, later buying English football club Manchester City in a 160-million-dollar deal.

But he returned to Bangkok in February this year after elections resulted in the current pro-Thaksin government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Other names topping Thailand's rich list were little different from last year, with beverage and media tycoons occupying six of the top 10 rankings.

Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, 76, returned to the top spot with a fortune of four billion dollars from his beverage company, while beermaker Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi came in second and 100 million dollars poorer than Chaleo, Forbes said.

Thailand's top 40 richest people this year are worth a total of 25 billion dollars, up six billion dollars from last year, according to the magazine.

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