Court sentences Thaksin's wife to 3 years

BANGKOK, July 31 (UPI) -- A Thai court Thursday sentenced Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to three years in prison for tax evasion.

The Criminal Court of Thailand ruled Pojaman Shinawatra intentionally avoided paying tax on the transfer of 4.5 million shares of the Shinawatra Computer and Communications worth $22 million, Thailand's Nation reported.

Her brother and secretary were convicted of similar charges. The brother was given a 3-year sentence while the secretary was sentenced to two years. All three were released on a bail of $149,000 each pending an appeal, the report said.

Other corruption charges are pending against the Shinawatras.

The BBC reported his wife, who is Thaksin's political and business partner, looked stunned when she heard the court verdict.

A Thaksin spokesman was quoted as saying the family would appeal and "fight to the end." Other corruption charges are pending. The family has denied any wrongdoing.

Thaksin, ousted in a 2006 coup, was banned from politics for five years but the current coalition government is led by his allies in the People's Power Party.