August 12, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 9, 1429

BANGKOK: Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra skipped bail on Monday to London, alleging that political enemies who removed him in a 2006 coup were interfering in the courts to “finish off” him and his family.

In a hand-written statement faxed to Thai television stations, Thaksin apologised to the Supreme Court and the public for failing to make a required appearance in a corruption case involving him and his wife, Potjaman.

“I must apologise again for deciding to come to live in England. If I am fortunate enough, I will return and die on Thai soil, just like other Thais,” he said.

The stock market rose 3.3 per cent amid hopes Thaksin’s removal from the political scene would lower the chances of street clashes, or worse, between his supporters and opponents.

The baht was unchanged at 33.71/74 against the dollar.

Thaksin said his decision to leave Thailand again, less than six months after returning from post-coup exile, had been necessary because his enemies had been meddling in the judicial system “to finish off myself and my family”.

Potjaman was sentenced to three years in jail last month for tax fraud, although she was freed on bail pending an appeal. Analysts say it was probably the prospect of watching his wife do jail time that forced Thaksin to leave the country.—Reuters