BANGKOK - THE wife of Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday appeared in court to seek permission for her trial on corruption charges to proceed in her absence.

Pojaman Shinawatra and Thaksin are both charged with corruption in the purchase of a plot of prime Bangkok real estate.

Investigators say Ms Pojaman used her billionaire husband's political influence to buy the land from a government agency at one-third of its estimated value.

Judge Thonglor Chomngarm said the two defendants had submitted more statements denying that the land purchase deal was a conflict of interest.

'It said the first defendant was not in control of the Financial Institution Development Fund (which organised the sale) and the land deal is not a conflict of interest,' Mr Thonglor said.

He said the court also allowed Ms Pojaman to absent herself.

Her lawyer, Pichit Chuenban, said Ms Pojaman cited business reasons for being unable to appear in court.

'It will help the trial proceed otherwise if she could not appear before the court, the trial will be delayed,' he told reporters.

Mr Pichit said he would prove the Asset Examination Committee set up by the military junta which ousted Thaksin in 2006 did not have the power to investigate the case.

The couple are also accused of making fraudulent filings to securities regulators in 2003 when they listed a property firm on the local exchange.

Mr Pojaman, her step-brother Banpot Damapong and her personal secretary Kanchanapa Honghern also face additional criminal charges of tax evasion.

Conviction on any of the charges could result in a prison sentence.

The military toppled Thaksin over allegations of widespread corruption, but after 16 months in power, failed to win any convictions against him.

Thailand's courts, while independent, often sway with the prevailing political mood, analysts say.

After Mr Thaksin's allies swept back into power in elections late last year, doubts have grown over how successful prosecutors will be in pursuing him. -- AFP