Thailand has been under two civillian dictator governments under Thaksin's control for nine months now, when this monumental verdict has come out.
Though the two governments have been purely corrupt and got majority in the house through vote-buying, they have been on the retreat/stalemate because of PAD's rally.
The courts however, needs PAD's backing to stand against Thaksin's bribery and threats by Thaksin's militant's wing UDD or DAAD, the red gang.
This is one of the best verdicts from various supreme courts of Thailand which include other verdicts such as on ex-PM Samak’s conflict of interests, Thai Rak Thai Party’s Dissolution on top of another best one from the lower criminal court in Potjaman’s tax frauds
(1) This verdict has set a standard for the cabinets, not to be personally involved or influence in the state’s deals by any means. ( From now on, Thai politicians have to be very careful with their declaration of their assets, their family’s deal with the state and any conflict of interests with the state. Any crooks will have to keep an eye on their taxes while hiding their corrupted money.)
(2) It has obviously and definitely disproved Thaksin Shinawatra’s lies, accusing the courts not providing fair trials for his family.
First, the verdict, strictly followed the laws, was postponed for a month because of the absence of the two accused who had fled to UK. Second, the court justly acquited Potjaman from all charges because she is not a government officer while this court has its jurisdiction within the NCCC laws. Third, the court justly lifted the charge of the violation of No.157 criminal laws as Thaksin was not the officer who directly carried out the land auction process.
Fourth, despite the caught-red-handed-bribing lawyers, Thaksin and Pojaman together with their cronies were allowed to fly away because of the due consideration of the court to release them on bails. All of these strict court orders has well proved that the courts follow the laws and have given fair trials whereas Thaksin's gang favours a smear and bribery tricks.
(3) Moreover, this verdict has indirectly proved that, even against the civillian government under Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Somchai, the Courts are independent as well as the state is stable enough. This could disprove the fabricated reasons in the Shinawatras’ application forms for asylum in UK.
(4) Thaksin said the charges were politically motivated and that he had expected the Supreme Court to sentence him. He was correct because if the judges had taken it financially, rather than politically with Thaksin's bribe, the verdict would have gone another way, i.e., acquiting Thaksin. Thaksin should know better already that mourning through international media is useless as the insider deal with the government by any high ranking political position is not allowed in any democratic countries like in UK and USA. An equivalent example is the American Martha Stewart, the cooking master was jailed because of the insider trading in American stock market.
(5) Potjaman is not free from the conviction by this Supreme Court, however, since she is still subjected to be sued under the criminal laws in the usual criminal court because she was either the actual culprit or the supporter for Thaksin in committing this criminal action. She deserves to have her money seized either by the eager Tax revenue office or at the request of the attorney general.
However, this would certainly urge the crooked Thaksin’s cronies to retaliate against the courts (such as an explosion at the house of the Chief Administrative Court Judge the night before.) as well as the attempt to amend the constitution to launder Thaksin Shinawatra’s family further.
www.antithaksin.com