A Thai court issued a fourth arrest warrant for the toppled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra today, but his spokesman insisted that the former leader would not return to Thailand to stand trial.
Mr Thaksin, who was ousted from power in a 2006 coup, recently fled Thailand to escape a string of corruption charges. The personal spokesman of Mr Thaksin, Phongthep Thepkanchana, told reporters at the Supreme Court that Mr Thaksin and his family would not return to Thailand to stand trial.
"Thaksin and his family are now living in London and he will not return to face any trial in the near future," Mr Phongthep said.
The Supreme Court issued today's fresh warrant because Mr Thaksin failed to report to court in an abuse of power case tied to an irregular lottery allegedly run by Mr Thaksin, his former Cabinet and other officials. Mr Phongthep is one of the dozens of former Thaksin officials charged in the case.
Mr Phongthep, along with the other defendants who attended court today, were released on bail. The court set the next hearing for late December. Mr Thaksin's three other arrest warrants are related to separate corruption cases. The penalties in each case carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
* AP
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RESULTS
Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)
Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)
Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
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Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
