Bangkok: A former Thai prime minister and key member of the embattled Shinawatra family pleaded not guilty today to criminal charges of abuse of power over a crackdown on a 2008 protest, the latest court case to ensnare the divisive clan.
Somchai Wongsawat - brother-in-law of deposed premiers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra - was prime minister for 80 days but was turfed from office by a court after massive anti-government protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) commonly known as the 'Yellow Shirts.'
Somchai has been tipped for a possible comeback as leader of the battered Shinawatra-aligned Puea Thai party, which was swept aside by a military coup last May shortly after Yingluck was toppled by another court decision and banned from politics.
Two people died and scores were injured in October 2008 when police used tear gas to clear the anti-Shinawatra, royalist 'Yellow Shirt' protesters who had blockaded Government House to prevent Somchai entering.
Somchai and three other defendants, including another former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, were charged in connection with the crackdown.
"All four defendants pleaded not guilty," the Supreme Court said in statement.
The court said the defendants must attend each hearing and banned them from travelling abroad.
They are next expected in court late June.
In response to the travel ban, Somchai -- who has been bailed for $280,000 -- told the court "I don't have money for an airfare".
On Thursday six Yellow Shirt leaders who led the 2008 protests were given two-year jail terms by another court for their roles in storming Government House.
They were all bailed pending appeal.
The ruling was the latest in a series of court cases targeting leaders on both sides of Thailand's febrile political divide, which has seen nearly a decade of disruptive and often deadly protests in Bangkok.
Thailand's ruling junta has vowed to bridge the kingdom's deep political schism but critics say its real motivation is to cut the Shinawatra family out of Thailand's political future.
Shinawatra family members or allies have won every election since 2001, despite two coups and the toppling of three premiers by the kingdom's courts.
Somchai Wongsawat - brother-in-law of deposed premiers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra - was prime minister for 80 days but was turfed from office by a court after massive anti-government protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) commonly known as the 'Yellow Shirts.'
Somchai has been tipped for a possible comeback as leader of the battered Shinawatra-aligned Puea Thai party, which was swept aside by a military coup last May shortly after Yingluck was toppled by another court decision and banned from politics.
Somchai and three other defendants, including another former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, were charged in connection with the crackdown.
Advertisement
The court said the defendants must attend each hearing and banned them from travelling abroad.
Advertisement
In response to the travel ban, Somchai -- who has been bailed for $280,000 -- told the court "I don't have money for an airfare".
Advertisement
They were all bailed pending appeal.
Advertisement
Thailand's ruling junta has vowed to bridge the kingdom's deep political schism but critics say its real motivation is to cut the Shinawatra family out of Thailand's political future.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Makes Muslim Women's Condition Pathetic": Centre On Triple Talaq In Supreme Court Supreme Court Takes Up Doctor's Rape-Murder Case, To Hear Matter On Tuesday US Supreme Court Keeps Block On Rules Protecting Transgender Students What Murdered Doctor's Father Said About A Torn Page From Her Diary Student Arrested For Controversial Post On Mamata Banerjee Malala Yousafzai's Post On Taliban After Attending Taylor Swift Concert Mumbai BMW Hit-And-Run Accused Says He Is Illegally Detained, Seeks Release UPSC To Introduce AI-Based CCTV Surveillance To Prevent Cheating Switzerland Offers Rs 50 Lakh For Solutions To Clear Ammunition From Lakes Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.