BANGKOK, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of Thailand's ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, on Monday pleaded not guilty to charges of tax evasion over a 10-year-old stock sale case, local media reported.

    Pojaman, her brother Banapot Damapong and an aide all pleaded innocent to charges of tax evasion of 738 million baht (about 21 million U.S. dollars) from a 1997 deal at the Criminal Court in Bangkok, local news group The Nation said.

    Some 50 policemen lined the courthouse entrance as she arrived wearing a brown suit with yellow blouse, signifying respect for Thailand's revered King on his birthday (Monday), with her three children and pressed by a mob of reporters.

    A handful of supporters, who tried to give her flowers, were sidelined by the police.

    It was the first criminal case against the family since Thaksin was removed in a military coup last Sept. 19.

    The court told lawyers to submit their evidence and witness lists on May 25.