By IANS
London : Thailand's Supreme Court decision to hear corruption charges against former prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra could affect his acquisition of English Premier League club Manchester City.
Thaksin's bid for Manchester City is still subject to the English Football Association's "fit and proper person" test, which specifically bars people convicted of corruption, even in a foreign court, BBC reported in its website Tuesday.
The first court hearing in Bangkok is due Aug 14, three days after the new season kicks off Aug 11 when Manchester City travel to London to face West Ham at Upton Park.
Despite uncertainty over the takeover, former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson has already taken charge of the Manchester City squad and is expected to name his support staff this week.
Thaksin, who has been living abroad since he was ousted in a military coup last September, has denied any wrongdoing.
The former Thai prime minister and his wife Pojaman were named in a case involving allegations of wrongdoing in a land deal.
The charges relate to the purchase of a prime plot of land in Bangkok in 2003 by Pojaman, for 772 million baht ($24 million). The land, owned by a government agency, had earlier been valued at 2.1 billion baht ($66 million). Thaksin is accused of illegally influencing the deal.
If convicted, the couple could be jailed for up to 13 years and face a fine.
Thaksin and his wife had been ordered by the court to attend the opening arguments but the former premier has said he would only return to Thailand only if he was sure of a fair trial.
Thaksin's solicitor in Bangkok, Noppadol Pattama, said Tuesday that his client would not be returning for the opening arguments, adding that the investigation and charges are politically motivated.