Thaksin Shinawatra

Man City owner not heading to Thailand

Updated 10.52 Wed Sep 05 2007
Keywords: Thaksin Shinawatra, Premier League, Manchester City, sport, football

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has reiterated he does not intend to return to Thailand, despite a second set of arrest warrants being issued against him in his homeland.

The former Thai prime minsiter and his wife are the subject of a police inquiry into the couple's alleged violation of stock-trading laws and corruption-related charges, which they have always denied.

"Dr Thaksin maintains his innocence and states that he is unlikely to be able to return to Thailand in the short term because of personal safety issues, his desire not be a cause of division in Thai society and the unlikelihood of a fair trial" - Spokesperson for Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin appears unlikely to return in the near future because he fears for his safety with a spokesman saying: "This is another politically motivated attack on the reputation of Dr Thaksin and his family.

"Dr Thaksin maintains his innocence and states that he is unlikely to be able to return to Thailand in the short term because of personal safety issues, his desire not be a cause of division in Thai society and the unlikelihood of a fair trial."

Last month saw Thailand's Supreme Court issue a first warrant after Thaksin and his wife failed to return home to answer corruption charges relating to a land sale.

The Manchester City owner has been living in London since being ousted from office in a bloodless coup last year.

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