July 31, 2008
by Bupha Ravirot

The Criminal Court gave its verdict on morning 31st July 2008 on a tax evasion case against Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, she is found to be guilty while family is in tension.

The Criminal Court have made a verdict on Thursday 10.45 am, found Khunying Pojaman Shinawatr with two other defendants, her adopted brother Bannaphot Damapong and her personal secretary Kanchana Honghern feel guilty of tax evasion in a 1997 share transaction.

The court sentenced Pojaman to three years in jail for avoiding a tax bite amounting to 546 million baht (16.3 million dollars) on a share transfer to her step-brother Bannapot Damapong and her secretary Karnchanapa Honghern in 1997.

Bannapot was also sentenced to three years in jail and Karnchanapa to two years. The court claimed that a heavy sentence of Pojaman and Bannapot because both were well-known public figures with responsibility to society.

The Criminal Court allowed the three defendants  to be bailed out at Bt5 mln each to prevent civil unrest. They have right to appeal within 30 days

While the criminal court judges started reading out the verdict her husband and children were appeared be look tense and throughout the ruling at the Bangkok court.

However Khunying Pojaman is expected to appeal the ruling.

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