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Canada body-parts murder victim identified
BANGKOK, July 8 (UPI) -- The corruption trial of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was under way Tuesday amid new allegations aimed at his one-time defense attorneys.
The trial, which is expected to last until September, is focused on corruption allegations against Thaksin and his wife Potjaman. Lawyers for Thaksin appeared Tuesday before the Thailand Supreme Court to defend him against charges he used his official influence to enable his wife to obtain 12 acres of land, the Voice of America reported.
Thaksin was ousted from power in a military coup in 2006 and the current government is seen as having close ties to the former prime minister.
The proceedings have been linked to a new scandal, however. Three members of Thaksin's original defense team have been arrested and jailed for contempt of court, charged with attempting to bribe court officials with about $62,000 packed in a lunch box, the VOA said.
Opposition politicians, however, said they have confidence the court can try Thaksin in an unbiased manner.
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