Thailand will seek Thaksin extradition

BANGKOK, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's passport may be revoked in a process to extradite him from England to face trial on corruption charges at home.

A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman said the diplomatic passport revocation was being considered following Supreme Court confirmation of his arrest warrant, the Bangkok Post reported.

The billionaire politician, accompanied by his wife, fled to London this week.

TimesOnLine quoted the Thai government as saying it plans to request Thaksin's extradition after the passport cancellation. Thaksin's wife Potjaman was free on bail after being convicted of tax evasion last month.

"The extradition procedure is difficult, complicated and time consuming and we cannot predict the timetable," a Thai government spokesman was quoted as saying.

The report said extradition may be difficult if Thaksin applies for asylum in Britain.

Thaksin, deposed in a 2006 military coup, is charged with corruption relating to his wife's purchase of a $25 million plot of land in Bangkok.

About $2 billion of his assets have been frozen by Thailand and could be confiscated.

Thaksin's trial may proceed despite his absence, the Post reported. The couple have denied all charges against them and believe they will not get a fair trial at home.