Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra was arrested in Bangkok on Thursday upon returning to his homeland for the first time in 17 months. The former Thailand prime minister had been living in London under a self-imposed exile. Shinawatra was taken into custody by police at Thailand's international airport on charges of corruption. Two warrants for his arrest were issued in September 2006 following a coup that had removed him from power. The 58-year-old now stands before the Supreme Court. He denies the charges.

Shinawatra understood that he might be taken into custody before boarding a flight from Hong Kong back to his homeland. "I believe in the Thai justice system, especially the court system," he told before boarding the plane. "Normally in justice systems everywhere, a person is innocent until proved guilty." Two members of the Manchester City squad -- reportedly goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and midfielder Kelvin Etuhu -- were on the same flight, headed to Thailand to hold youth soccer clinics and work out with the national team.

Read the original story...