Arrest warrant issued for former Thai leader Thaksin in renewed telecom concession case

BANGKOK - Thailand's Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for former leader Thaksin Shinawatra in a renewed lawsuit involving his alleged misconduct over telecom concession fees.

The arrest warrant was issued by the Supreme Court in absentia of Thaksin who has remained in self-exile overseas since the last decade.

The arrest warrant followed a court subpoena earlier issued for the deposed premier to appear in court in defense of himself over the renewed telecom concession case.

Thaksin was sentenced in absentia by court in 2008 to a two-year term in prison for alleged misconduct over a purchase of land in Bangkok.