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Rathcadapisek land deal trial gets underway
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The Ratchadapisek land deal trial, in which ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Potjaman are the defendants, began at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office on Tuesday.

Thaksin is charged with malfeasance by allegedly misusing his position as prime minister in helping his wife to purchase a plot of land in the Ratchadapisek area for 772 million baht (US$22.9 million) from the Bank of Thailand (BOT)'s Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF). The price paid for the land was thought to be well below market prices. Both Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman deny any wrongdoing.

Four witnesses provided the court with testimony on Tuesday. Two of the witnesses providing testimony were former prime ministers: Banharn Silpa-archa, leader of the Chart Thai party, a member of the government's ruling coalition; and Chuan Leekpai, chief adviser to the (opposition) Democrat party.

The trial will continue on July 15, 22, 25, and 29. A total of 22 witnesses are expected to give testimony. - Manager Online.
 
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The Constitution Court on Tuesday ruled by a margin of 8-1 that the joint communiqué signed by Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama in support of Cambodia's registration of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site breaches Article 190 of the constitution.

A meeting of judges concluded that the communique, issued on June 18, 2008, contains all the important characteristics of a treaty and so the minister should first have sought approval from parliament before signing off on the document. The court will now forward the matter to Senate speaker Prasobsuk Boondech and Lower House speaker Chai Chidchob.

The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations' Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) resolved to list the Preah Vihear temple as a new World Heritage site on Monday, along with George Town and Melaka along Malaysia's Straits of Malacca. - Manager Online.