thaksin judge given box of cash
25 June 2008

The Thai Supreme Court (Bangkok) jailed three lawyers working for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for trying to bribe a judge with a candy box stuffed with money.

The box containing two million baht ($59 800) in cash was brought earlier this month to the secretariat of the Supreme Court by an unnamed lawyer, who asked for it to be given to a judge. Security officers checking the box alerted the judge, who called the lawyer to take back the box. A three-judge Supreme Court panel found Pichit Cheunban, Thaksin's chief lawyer, and his two assistants guilty of attempting to illegally influence the court.

"The action by the three shows the intention to persuade court officials to commit wrongdoing," it said. "This action is serious and the court sentences each to six months in jail," it said.

Another man, Thana Tansiri, alleged to have delivered the parcel, failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Further legal action on a separate charge of criminal bribery is expected. Thaksin's lawyers had denied being behind the bribe attempt. The ruling puts his top lawyers in prison just weeks before the Supreme Court is expected to hear a case against Thaksin, accusing him and his wife of using political influence to win a sweetheart property deal in 2003. Thaksin and his wife each face up to 13 years in prison if found guilty.

Royalist generals toppled Thaksin's government in 2006, accusing him of widespread corruption. Investigators have frozen about $2bn worth of his assets, but have yet to convict him on any charges.