Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, arrived at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Monday morning for judgement on money laundering charges related to a multi-billion-baht loan scandal 13 years ago.
Mr Panthongtae, 39, arrived at the court about 9.30am with his mother Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, his sisters Pinthongta and Paethongtan, and a group of supporters. The court was to begin reading its ruling at 10am.
On arrival, Mr Panthongtae commented briefly to reporters that he was slightly excited and remained confident.
Mr Panthongtae was accused of money-laundering because he had received a 10-million-baht cheque linked to illegitimately approved loans totalling 9.9 billion baht that Krungthai Bank (KTB), a state-run bank, extended to subsidiaries of real estate developer Krisdamahanakorn (KMC) between 2003 and 2004 while his father Thaksin Shinawatra was the prime minister.
Mr Panthongtae earlier told the court that the money came from his friend Ratchada Krisdathanon, who wanted to co-invest in his business plan, dating from 2004, to import luxury cars. Mr Ratchada is the son of KMC owner Wichai Krisdathanon.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court acquitted Thaksin of charges in connection with the same KTB loan scandal, ruling there was no proof presented that he was the "big boss" who had ordered KTB to approve the 9.9 billion baht in loans to KMC's affiliates.
