Pojamarn Shinawatra proceeds to the entrance to Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008.  (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BANGKOK, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of Thailand's ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, defended herself at the Supreme Court in Bangkok Wednesday morning against corruption charges over a controversial land deal, denying any illegal conduct in the case.

    Pojaman said nothing was done inappropriately or unlawfully during the land deal as she appeared to face corruption charges in Bangkok Wednesday morning.

    Security was tightened around the Bangkok-based Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, where a dozen of the former pr prime minister's supporters, including close relatives and some former key executive members of his disbanded Thai Rak Thai party, turned up to give moral support to Pojaman.

    Her three children Panthongtae, Pinthongta and Paethongtan Shinawatra, were with her at the court.

    Pajaman's lawyer Pichit Chuenban told reporters that he and his legal team has prepared evidence, both document and witnesses, to fight the case. However, he refused to reveal the details, according to the Bangkok Post website.

    Thaksin and Pojaman face charges over the purchase of the 5.28-hectare, 772-million-baht (about 23 million U.S dollars in current exchange rate) land plot on the downtown Ratchadaphisek road from the government agency Financial Institutions Development Fund in 2003.

    Pojaman won the bid, but the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) accused her and her husband of using the influence of Thaksin as then prime minister to get the deal at a price prosecutors said much lower than the market price.

    The Supreme Court issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and Pojaman in August last year after the couple failed to appear for the first hearing for the same case.

    Pojaman returned to Thailand from Hong Kong on Jan. 8 to fight the charges, and was released on bail after reporting to the Supreme Court.

    Thaksin, who remained living overseas since ousted in a military coup in September, 2006, has said he will return to defend himself at court by mid-April.

    If found guilty, the couple could face years of imprisonment.    

Flank by family members and legal team, Pojamarn Shinawatra (Front-C) proceeds to the entrance to Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Thai former premier's wife to return to Thailand

    BANGKOK, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Pojamarn Shinawatra, wife of Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return to Thailand on Tuesday, local media reported on Monday.

    Pojamarn is scheduled to arrive at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport from Hong Kong at about 08:15 a.m. local time (0115 GMT) on Tuesday, a police source was quoted by local news network The Nation as saying. Full story