Thaksin bailed in Thailand February 28 2008
Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted bail following his arrest on returning 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.
Thaksin then held a press conference at The Peninsula hotel in Bangkok where he stressed he was in Thailand solely to clear his name.
"I have returned to prove my innocence and restore my reputation, which has been unfairly tarnished," he said in the Bangkok Post.
"I will not return to the political stage. I am 59 this year, so I just want to enjoy the last stages of my life with my family, in my country. I will die on Thai soil.
"There is nowhere in the world where I and my family can stay as happily as in Thailand."
Thaksin 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 Blues squad - reportedly goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and midfielder Kelvin Etuhu - were believed to be on the flight and said they planned to hold some football clinics with Thai children and work out with the national team.