Thailand's former Prime Minister and fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra is expected Friday to let the defence team prepare an appeal for his conviction on the Ratchadapisek land case, his chief defence lawyer Kamnuan Chalopatham said on Friday.

Kamnuan was quoted by the Nations, a local newspaper, as saying that should Thaksin authorize to seek the appellate review, the defence team will start to map out its legal strategy in outlining the fresh evidence relating to factual information and legal issues pertaining to the case.

The appeal will be lodged at the Supreme Court within 30 days for a review by its full bench. Should the high court rule to launch the appellate review, the extradition request has to be suspended pending the outcome of the judicial decision.

Thailand's Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions pronounced on Oct. 21 a two-year sentence on a land purchase scandal against Thaksin.

Thaksin was ousted in a September 2006 coup and is now in exile in Britain.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2008)