A compilation of brief news reports for Wednesday, June 13, 2007.
Former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos has been acquitted, due to lack of evidence, of tax evasion charges that date back to the 1980s.
The complaint said Marcos failed to pay 33.734 million Philippine pesos for earning 192.08 million pesos in 1985 and 5.736 million pesos for the Marcos estate in 1989. Without accounting for inflation, the amount tax officials said was owed totals around US$845,000. The case was filed in 1991.
“I thank the Lord that justice for the Marcoses has prevailed,” Marcos was quoted as saying outside the courthouse in Quezon City. “You can be sure that this will be followed by justice for the Filipino people.’’
Sources
- “QC court acquits Imelda in 5 tax evasion cases filed in ’91” — GMA Network, June 13, 2007
- Associated Press. “Manila court clears Imelda Marcos” — CNN, June 13, 2007
Thailand’s embattled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had his assets in Thailand ordered frozen on Monday, but today banking officials are having trouble locating some of it.
The Assets Examination Committee ordered 52.8 billion baht (about US$1.5 billion) in 21 accounts seized, but only 43 billion baht has been found.
According to the Bank of Thailand, more than 8 billion baht was withdrawn between June 4 and Monday, with about 5.6 billion baht withdrawn in the name of Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Bhanapot Damapong.
Related
- “Wikinews Shorts: June 12, 2007#Thai junta says Thaksin can come home” — Wikinews, June 12, 2007
- “Ex-Thai PM Thaksin’s assets are frozen” — Wikinews, June 11, 2007
Sources
- “Central bank follows the money” — Bangkok Post, June 13, 2007
- “Bt8 bn more goes missing” — The Nation (Thailand), June 13, 2007