Thaksin pleads not guilty at 1st hearing on land deal

BANGKOK, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday pleaded "not guilty" at the first hearing before the Supreme Court on a 2003 controversial land deal in which he was accused of abuse-of-power.

Thaksin began testifying before the Supreme Court at around 9:30 a.m. (0230GMT) Wednesday at the first hearing on the land case filed by the Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

He pleaded "not guilty" for charges that he abused his power as then Thai prime minister to help his wife Pojaman obtain a piece of land on Ratchadapisek Road in downtown Bangkok during a government auction at a lower-than-market price.

His wife was also defendant on the case.

Thaksin had reported to the Supreme Court upon his return on Feb. 28 after a 17-month self-exile since ousted by a military coup in September, 2006.