World

Thaksin appeal rejected

06:01 am on 12 August 2010

The Supreme Court in Thailand has rejected an appeal by exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over the seizure of assets worth almost $US1.5 billion.

The assets were frozen when Mr Thaksin was overthrown in a military coup in 2006.

A court ordered in February that they should be seized. It ruled that they had been gained illegally through conflict of interest when he was prime minister.

The Bangkok Post quoted a court official as saying the Supreme Court refused to accept the appeal because the family presented no new evidence.

The BBC reports Mr Thaksin lives in self-imposed exile overseas. He faces a two-year prison term for corruption if he returns to Thailand.