Pojamarn Shinawatra arrived in Bangkok on a flight from Hong Kong, where police waited to escort her to court.

With her husband, she faces two sets of charges related to alleged violation of stock-trading laws and a land sale.

Her return comes as the People Power Party, which backs Mr Thaksin, works to form a government after winning the most seats in last month's election.

In the first polls since the military coup of September 2006, the PPP fell short of an outright majority and Thaksin ally victory 'sabotaged' ...
Thai PPP seeks coalition allies ...
Paedophile suspect Neil arrested ...
Global hunt for child-sex suspect ... is seeking to form a coalition with smaller parties.

But 65 of its winning candidates now face investigation over possible voting fraud, prompting party leader Samak Sundaravej to accuse coup leaders of sabotaging his efforts to form a government.

Court appearance

Mr Thaksin, a telecommunications billionaire, and his wife have been living abroad since the military seized power, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.

Last year, Thai courts issued arrest warrants for the couple in connection with two financial cases.

One relates to the purchase of a plot of land in central Bangkok, the second to an alleged attempt to conceal assets, violating the stock-trading law.

The two deny any wrongdoing and say the charges against them are politically motivated.

Arriving in Bangkok, Pojamarn Shinawatra was handed an arrest warrant by waiting police, who said that they would take her straight to court.

In a statement on Monday issued via her lawyer, she said that she was "willing to fight the case in court in accordance with the judicial system".

Mr Thaksin remains overseas, but says he plans to return to Thailand by April, once a new government is in power.

The new parliament is due to convene on 22 January, but as yet no government has been formed.

(BBC)

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