Judges recommend bribery charges be laid
POST REPORTERS
Pichit Chuenban, a lawyer for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is taken to Bangkok Special Prison after the Supreme Court found him and two other members of the legal team guilty of contempt of court by trying to bribe a court official. |
The Supreme Court sentenced three key members of the legal team of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to six months in prison each yesterday over the two-million-baht snack box incident.
Lead lawyer Pichit Chuenban, legal assistant Supasri Srisawat and the coordinator of the legal team Thana Tansiri were found guilty by a panel of three judges of contempt of court in the precincts of the court.
Each was given a six-month jail term.
The trio also face criminal charges under Article 144 of the Criminal Code.
The panel chaired by Supreme Court vice-president Mongkol Thapthiang suspects they were trying to give a bribe and has assigned the court secretary to lodge a police complaint.
"Their conduct is regarded as grave as the incident took place at the Supreme Court, the country's highest court of justice.
"The court orders serious punishment for the accused and sentences them to six months in jail each," the judges said in their decision.
The ruling came just days before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders is due to hear a land case against Mr Thaksin and his wife, who are accused of using political influence to buy a block of land on Ratchadapisek road.
Pichit was representing the ousted prime minister in both the Ratchada case and the SC Assets share concealment case.
The three judges said Pichit and his team were at the Supreme Court on June 10 to report that Mr Thaksin and his wife Kunying Potjaman had returned from a business trip overseas.
On the same day, Thana, who is Khunying Potjaman's cousin by marriage, asked Supasri to call M.L. Thitipong Chumpoonut, a court official attached to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, for a private meeting.
He handed over a snack box which was tightly wrapped with duct tape, and told M.L. Thitipong it was presented as a good-will gesture.
Uncertain what to do, M.L. Thitipong asked his supervisor if he could accept the box and was told to return it.
When they opened the box they found two million baht cash in it.
During the inquiry, Thana claimed that he gave the wrong box to the official, while Pichit and Supasri denied any involvement.
"The court considers this an attempt to persuade [others] to commit an offence.
"And the two others were also in the know," the court said.
The court said Thana should have placed the snack box in an open room where others could see if his motives were sound.
The court said Thana took the box back from the official without bothering to say anything because he was aware of what was inside the box.
Supasri wept as she heard the verdict and Pichit looked dejected.
Thana failed to appear in court yesterday, claiming he had a headache. The court rejected his explanation and issued a warrant for his arrest.
After they were denied bail, Pichit and Supasri were handcuffed and taken to Bangkok Special Prison to serve their sentences.
The court's ruling is considered final and the trio cannot file an appeal.
Suchart Lainam-ngern, a People Power party MP for Lop Buri, who turned up to give the defence team support, said he believed Pichit was innocent.
"He is a professional lawyer. He has been selected to defend Mr Thaksin because of his track record," Mr Suchart said.
Anek Khamchum, a member of the legal team, said the court ruling is unlikely to affect the Ratchada land case. The next plaintiff witness hearing is scheduled for July 8.
Sa-ngiam Boonchan, secretary-general to the Lawyers Council, said the three lawyers also face disciplinary action by the council.
A committee will be set up as soon as the council formally receives the court's verdict, he said.
The three would get the chance to defend themselves before the committee.
He said there are three levels of disciplinary action - probation, a three-year ban and expulsion.
"Most of those found guilty in connection with matters where finance is involved get the most serious action - expulsion," he said.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Next
