Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK2327
2008-07-31 10:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
WIFE OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN CONVICTED,
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002327
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM KJUS TH
SUBJECT: WIFE OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN CONVICTED,
SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT
REF: A. BANGKOK 2243 (THAKSIN PREDICTS UNITY GOVT)
B. BANGKOK 2092 (LEGAL TEAM PESSIMISTIC)
C. 06 BANGKOK 7594 (SCRAMBLING TO BUILD CASE)
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002327
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM KJUS TH
SUBJECT: WIFE OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN CONVICTED,
SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT
REF: A. BANGKOK 2243 (THAKSIN PREDICTS UNITY GOVT)
B. BANGKOK 2092 (LEGAL TEAM PESSIMISTIC)
C. 06 BANGKOK 7594 (SCRAMBLING TO BUILD CASE)
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (U) A three-judge panel of the Criminal Court on July 31
convicted Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of former Prime Minister
Thaksin, on charges of tax evasion and providing false
statements to the government. Potjaman's step-brother
(Bannapot Damapong) and her secretary (Kanchanapa Honghern)
were also convicted. (Ref C provided details of the basis
for the tax evasion charge.) Both Potjaman and Bannapot
received three-year jail sentences; Kanchanapa received a
two-year sentence. They each posted five million Baht
(approximately 150,000 USD) for bail and were allowed to
leave the court.
2. (C) As reported in ref A and B, Thaksin and his legal team
had expected a conviction in this case and planned to appeal.
In a text message after the verdict, a member of Thaksin's
legal team complained to us that the Court had been "highly
influenced" (read: by political pressure). Chaturon
Chaiseng, former Acting Leader of the Thai Rak Thai party,
told us after the ruling that Potjaman's conviction would
have important (although currently unclear) political
ramifications, and it signaled that further convictions of
Thaksin and his wife would ensue.
3. (C) Comment: Thaksin's opponents will surely rejoice in
the conviction, the most recent in a series of rulings that
show the courts playing the most significant role in
marginalizing Thaksin, who still wields considerable
political influence through informal mechanisms. So long as
Thaksin's most strident foes feel the courts are effectively
advancing their agenda, they may be less likely to rely on
the street protests that recently helped to forestall some
government initiatives, such as constitutional amendment.
Thaksin's recent conversation with the Ambassador (ref A)
indicated that Thaksin was resigned to legal setbacks and
would not necessarily take his fight to the streets.
JOHN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM KJUS TH
SUBJECT: WIFE OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN CONVICTED,
SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT
REF: A. BANGKOK 2243 (THAKSIN PREDICTS UNITY GOVT)
B. BANGKOK 2092 (LEGAL TEAM PESSIMISTIC)
C. 06 BANGKOK 7594 (SCRAMBLING TO BUILD CASE)
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (U) A three-judge panel of the Criminal Court on July 31
convicted Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of former Prime Minister
Thaksin, on charges of tax evasion and providing false
statements to the government. Potjaman's step-brother
(Bannapot Damapong) and her secretary (Kanchanapa Honghern)
were also convicted. (Ref C provided details of the basis
for the tax evasion charge.) Both Potjaman and Bannapot
received three-year jail sentences; Kanchanapa received a
two-year sentence. They each posted five million Baht
(approximately 150,000 USD) for bail and were allowed to
leave the court.
2. (C) As reported in ref A and B, Thaksin and his legal team
had expected a conviction in this case and planned to appeal.
In a text message after the verdict, a member of Thaksin's
legal team complained to us that the Court had been "highly
influenced" (read: by political pressure). Chaturon
Chaiseng, former Acting Leader of the Thai Rak Thai party,
told us after the ruling that Potjaman's conviction would
have important (although currently unclear) political
ramifications, and it signaled that further convictions of
Thaksin and his wife would ensue.
3. (C) Comment: Thaksin's opponents will surely rejoice in
the conviction, the most recent in a series of rulings that
show the courts playing the most significant role in
marginalizing Thaksin, who still wields considerable
political influence through informal mechanisms. So long as
Thaksin's most strident foes feel the courts are effectively
advancing their agenda, they may be less likely to rely on
the street protests that recently helped to forestall some
government initiatives, such as constitutional amendment.
Thaksin's recent conversation with the Ambassador (ref A)
indicated that Thaksin was resigned to legal setbacks and
would not necessarily take his fight to the streets.
JOHN