|
Manchester: Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Tuesday that his conviction on a corruption charge is politically motivated.
"It was expected, it wasn't a surprise and there will be more [charges] to come," Thaksin told The Associated Press by telephone from his home near London.
Thailand's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Thaksin abused his power to let his wife bid for state land when he was in office.
The nine-member court ruled by five to four that Thaksin had gotten involved in his wife's purchase of land from a central bank fund and sentenced him to two years in prison.
"It was politically motivated since the court is a carry-forward of the coup d'etat," Thaksin said.
"I'm a politician and after I was toppled by the coup it's normal that they will try every means to justify it,” he said, adding that he would distribute translations of the testimonies from the case to the international community.
"They don't use the rule of the law as evidence, they follow the politics," he said. "They try to use the court to manage politics."
Thaksin, who sold English Premier League football club Manchester City last month to an Abu Dhabi investors, said he was confident he would be able to remain in Britain.
"I was waiting for today before planning my life," he said. "I want to be a prominent businessman in the UK if the British people will welcome me."
Thaksin lives in exile in Britain with his wife and children.
|
