2009-12-13
(Posted by CAAI News Media)
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Cambodia for the second time on Sunday afternoon, a government spokesman said.
Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, said that Thaksin arrived in Cambodia on Sunday afternoon and went straight to meet with Sivarak Chotipong in a prison at Prey Sar, about 15 kilometers south of Phnom Penh.
Sivarak Chotipong, 31, was sentenced to seven years in jail and a fine of 10 million riel (about 2,500 U.S. dollars) on Tuesday by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, and was pardoned last weekend by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni.
Sivarak will be handed over to his mother the next day by the Cambodian side. According to Khieu Kanharith, a delegation from the Pheu Thai Party will attend the handing over ceremony.
The lawyer of Sivarak told reporters outside the prison that they were "very glad for the release of Sivarak," it was an effort made by both Pheu Thai Party and the help of relative sectors of the Cambodian government.
While he is in Phnom Penh, Thaksin will give a lecture again to Cambodian officials on economic issues.
Thaksin posted on his own online Twitter page on Saturday that he is to travel to exchange ideas with leaders of three countries in Asia for seven to eight days.
It remains unclear how many days Thaksin will stay in Cambodia, but one government official said he might stay a few days in Cambodia.
Sivarak was working as an engineer employed by the Thai owned company, Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co. at the Phnom Penh International Airport.
A Cambodian court charged him for sending information of flight plans of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who made a visit to Cambodia on Nov. 10 -- to the Thai government through its embassy in Phnom Penh.
He was arrested the next day in Phnom Penh.
Sivarak's mother has asked Thailand's opposition Pheu Thai Party for help releasing her son.
A Cambodian official who asked not to be identified said Thaksin has played a key role in helping Sivarak to be released.
Editor: Lin Zhi
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