Judges in place for Thaksin

The case concerns charges that he abused his power in replacing concession payments with an excise tax on telecom operators.

The Supreme Court's full bench elected Pairoj Wayupap, Pornphet Wichitchonchai, Boonrawd Tanprasert, Kasem Weerawong, Chalee Tapwimol, Ratana Kongkaew, Prateep Chalermphatarakul, Direk Ungkinan and Sumit Supadul to fill the panel.

The first seven are chief justices of the Supreme Court and the last two are senior judges.

Pornphet, Boonrawd, Kasem, Chalee and Ratana are also sitting on another tribunal hearing a graft case implicating Thaksin over rubber saplings.

The nine will meet to assign three among them to preside over the case.

The panel is expected to hold its first session on September 3 to rule whether the case merits judicial review. If it decides that it does, the same judges will try the case.

The defence has a month to file an objection to any of the panel judges on grounds of conflict of interest.

The prosecution contends that Thaksin caused Bt66 billion in damages to the state by allowing Shin Corp to pay excise taxes rather than the higher fees stipulated under the concession.