Verdict today on Pojaman tax case

Chief Justice Withoon Klongmeekun has issued strict instructions to security staff to maintain order during the reading of the verdict this morning at 9am. Rumours suggest there will be a showdown between government supporters and opponents on the Criminal Court's premises on Ratchadapisek Road.

The Attorney General indicted the three defendants, accusing them of intentionally avoiding a tax payment of Bt546 million for the transfer of 4.5 million shares of the Shinawatra Computer and Communications' shares worth Bt738 million.

The charges arising from transaction, which took place in November 1997, come under the criminal codes of Article 37 (1) (2) of the Revenue Code. Violation of this law is punishable with a fine of between Bt2,000 and Bt200,000 and a jail sentence of between three months and seven years. A multiple violation of this law will result in a jail sentence of not more than 20 years.

Criminal Court secretary Narat Imsuksri said the Court had issued a directive to ensure order in the courtroom and the surrounding area during the delivery of the verdict.

"No one is allowed to behave in a way that disturbs the peace or causes annoyance; and no one is allowed to act in a way that instigates or provokes such behaviour within the compound or territory of the court. Otherwise they will be subject to legal action as stipulated in the law," the Criminal Court's statement said.

The court also sought cooperation from the 191 police and the commando unit to deploy 200 officers to keep security in the courtroom and around the court compound.

The court has provided 120 seats for the public to hear the verdict at courtroom number 704 and closedcircuit television will be provided for those outside the courtroom to receive both voice and image coverage.

"We do not want violence either from the supporters or opponents,'' Narat said.

Security officials will thoroughly check everyone coming to the court. People who are not involved will not be allowed to park their cars in the court's car parking area as a measure to prevent possible bomb attacks since explosives can be hidden inside cars.

The Office of the Attorney General filed the suit on March 26 last year, summoning more than 30 prosecution witnesses to testify including Sak Korsaengruang, spokesman of the nowdefunct Assets Examination Committee who chaired the AEC panel that probed the accusation of tax evasion, and former Finance Ministry permanent secretary and former directorgeneral of the Revenue Department Suparat Kawutkul.

The three defendants denied the charges and almost 20 defence witnesses testified in the case.