City owner bailed in Thailand
Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted bail following his arrest on his return to Thailand following 17 months of self-imposed exile.
The former Thai prime minister was ordered by the Supreme Court to post 267,000 US Dollars (£134,610) bail pending trial on corruption charges which will begin on March 12. He is also barred from leaving the country without permission.
The 58-year-old, who took over City last summer, was taken into custody by police after his arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on a Thai Airways flight from Hong Kong. He was then driven to the Supreme Court.
Two arrest warrants were issued for Thaksin after the September 2006 coup that removed him from power, but he denies all charges.
He had earlier told reporters before boarding the plane in Hong Kong: "I believe in the Thai justice system, especially the court system. Normally in justice systems everywhere, a person is innocent until proved guilty."
Members of the City player squad - reportedly goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and midfielder Kelvin Etuhu - were reportedly on the flight and said they planned to hold some soccer clinics with Thai children and work out with the national team.
