Nirmal Ghosh hears that the former first couple will return from Beijing.

In Bangkok

Rumours that the former first couple of Thailand may not return from the Olympics Opening Ceremony were countered late today. Sources say the Shinawatras have booked their return tickets on a Thai Airways flight on Sunday.

Speculation had swept through Bangkok that following her conviction last week for tax evasion, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra and her husband and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, may not return from their trip to China.

But they must report to the Supreme Court by Monday and it looks like they will be complying after all. 

While the verdict was being read out in Thailand's Criminal Court on July 31st, one of the couple's daughters was seen shaking her head in bitter denial as the picture painted by the judges made it increasingly clear that a guilty verdict was on the way.
 
When the verdict – guilty and 3 years jail, but still subject to appeal – was finally announced the daughter banged her head on the wooden bench in front of her in apparent despair.
 
That day many mid- to senior level police officers were worried that were Ms Pojaman ever to be put in handcuffs and arrested, Mr Thaksin's supporters would create disturbances in the streets that would be hard to control.
 
The police officers who talked to The Straits Times off the record, said they believed allowing Mr Thaksin back into the country earlier this year was part of an elaborate ruse, to have him and his family here when the guilt verdicts were passed – assuming of course they are, from the string of court cases against them.
 
The police officers – and many in the Bangkok intelligentsia as well – at the time wondered aloud whether the couple would seek asylum overseas.
 
Pojaman Shinawatra left Bangkok on Tuesday for Beijing, with her adopted brother and secretary who were also found complicit in tax evasion. According to a report in the Bangkok Post ''they were seen carrying several bags with them.''
 
''Some of her three children broke down in tears as they saw her off'' the Post reported.
 
Mr Thaksin is already in China, where he arrived after a stopover in Japan to deliver a lecture.
 
Bangkok is known as city of rumours, and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva once quipped to me ''In Bangkok if you hear a rumour, the chances are it is probably true.''
 
Mr Thaksin's spokesman has said they will indeed return.

After all the sentence is subject to appeal, a process which could take between three to five years. Also, many consider a second case against the couple – over the purchase of a plot of prime land in Bangkok – rather weak.

However there are other cases against them, which could well seal their fate and also bury chances of Mr Thaksin recovering several billions of Baht in frozen assets in Thailand.  
 
Adding fuel is recent reports that Mr Thaksin is looking out for buyers who may be interested in taking Manchester City off his hands.

The Manchester Evening News reported last week that that at least three groups - believed to be based in the Middle East and India - had been approached by an intermediary with a brief to find the money to catapult City into the Premier League.

Man City reportedly admitted on Tuesday that there had been "exploratory" talks between Mr Thaksin and potential investors.
The Guardian yesterday reported ''City manager (Mark) Hughes has brushed aside speculation that Shinawatra is poised to sell his stake in the club. Hughes said: "I think there is old news which raises its head now and again. There is absolutely no issue there, the club is not going to be sold.

"The owner is looking for parties to come in and invest if they are the right people, and for the right areas of the business. But there is no intention to sell the club."

One reason for Mr Thaksin to be nervous could be that with such an array of legal cases against him, any conviction could jeopardize his status as owner of the club.