Controversial former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been found guilty of corruption in his native Thailand.
The former Thai prime minister, who only sold the club to Abu Dhabi United Group a matter of months ago, was sententeced to two years in prison by the country's supreme court.
Mr Shinawatra was ousted from power in 2006, during a military coup, and fled to the UK claiming he would not receive a fair trial in Thailand.
He was accused of numerous counts of corruption by the coup leaders, including helping his wife to buy state land at a reduced price.
"Thaksin had violated the article of the constitution on conflict of interest, as he was then prime minister and head of government who was supposed to work for the benefit of the public," the BBC reported one judge in the trial as saying.
The former prime minister had intended to return to Thai politics, but this now looks unlikely with the court ruling that he will serve time.
Mr Shinawatra is still honorary chairman of Manchester City Football Club.
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21 October 2010
21 October 2010
21 October 2010
20 October 2010
20 October 2010
