(RTTNews) - Thailand's Supreme Court issued an ex parte arrest warrant Thursday for ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for filing a false statement on his assets to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), but temporarily suspended hearing the case pending his arrest.

A bench of nine judges of the court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions (CDHPP) delivered this verdict as neither Thaksin nor his counsel was present to hear the charges and represent his stance. The judges also agreed to temporarily suspend the trial until Thaksin was arrested.

"Thaksin failed to appear without notifying the court. His action shows an intention to escape," said a judge, adding, "the case is pending until he is arrested."

Thai courts have issued a series of ex parte warrants for Thaksin on charges, including terrorism--an accusation related to violent street protests this April and May by members and supporters of his "Red Shirt" movement.

The NACC earlier filed its case with the court after the CDHPP ruled February 26 that Thaksin and his former wife had concealed their declarable assets and that he had abused his position as prime minister to further his personal business interests.

The court ruled to seize assets of Thaksin and his family members, valued at 46 billion baht (US$1.4 billion).

Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006. He lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term imposed in absentia on charges of corruption.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Department of Special Investigation said it had forwarded cases against 25 persons linked to the Red Shirt protests, including Thaksin, to the Attorney-General, recommending they be indicted for terrorism.

More than 90 persons were killed and 1,900 others injured in a series of street clashes in April and May between police and soldiers on the one hand and demonstrators on the other.

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