Former Thai PM Thaksin, wife divorce

HONG KONG, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has divorced his wife less than a month after they were tried together on corruption charges, sources say.

Thaksin reportedly told People Power Party officials at a dinner in Hong Kong Friday night that he had divorced Khunying Potjaman, who has been acquitted on conflict of interest charges but sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion, while Thaksin was found guilty and sentenced to two years in jail, the Bangkok Post reported.

The move shocked many of the couple's friends and colleagues, and stunned the politicians at the dinner table, an unnamed member of Parliament told the newspaper.

The pair, who married in 1976 and have three children, were frequently seen together, even after Thaksin was ousted in a military coup. An unnamed source told the newspaper Thaksin has chosen to live in Dubai because the United Arab Emirates has no extradition treaty with Thailand.

The divorce may be a legal maneuver to protect the couple's assets, which are mostly held in Khunying Potjaman's name, the Post said.