The sight of former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom head down, listening to the Supreme Court ruling on his role in the fake government-to-government (G2G) rice deals contrasted sharply with that of the merriment of his former boss, Yingluck Shinawatra, sharing a sumptuous meal with her brother and fugitive former prime minister, Thaksin, and his youngest daughter.
Paethongtarn "Oonging" Shinawatra posted on Facebook, "Ar-poo pa ma kin poo", meaning "Auntie Poo is [Yingluck's nickname] treating us to these crab delicacies''.
Thaksin and Yingluck were all smiles, as they posed with huge crabs. Yingluck, who was indicted over the corrupt rice deals, fled the country and was sentenced to five years in jail in absentia, leaving Boonsong, who has health problems, and former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol, as well as senior commerce officials, to face their cruel fate. Poom was given 36 years imprisonment.
The crab party took place just one day after the court issued a verdict which increased the jail term for Boonsong from 42 to 48 years.
The rice saga was said to be the mother of all corruption cases as it caused heavy damages, about 600 billion baht, to the country. The court gave those involved a harsh term to set an example.
Boonsong, a close aide of Yaowapa Wongsawat, Thaksin's sister and former Pheu Thai core leader, is not the only one who received a jail term for his bosses.
Before that, Surapong Suebwonglee was thrown in jail for one year for his role, as ICT minister, in revising a contract in favour of the Shinawatra family.
Pracha Maleenont, the former deputy interior minister, was implicated in the 6.6 billion baht fire engine and boat procurement scandal and got 12 years before fleeing.
Varathep Rattanakorn, the former deputy finance minister, received a two-year suspended term for the lottery scandal.
Surapong Tovichakchaikul faces two years in prison for unlawfully issuing a passport for his boss. He has appealed and it is anticipated that the case will soon be finalised.
Several red-shirt UDD leaders were jailed and fined for leading demonstrators in street protests during 2009-2010 that turned violent, causing the loss of lives on both sides.
In the latest case, the Supreme Court this week upheld the ruling of the two lower courts, sentencing Arisman Pongruangrong and 11 other members of the red-shirt movement to four years each in prison for unlawfully disrupting the 2009 Asian Summit in Pattaya. More are to face the music.
Seven red-shirt leaders, including Natthawut Saikuar, Weng Tojirakarn and Veerakan Musikapong, who were given two years and eight months each for their role in the riots in front of the residence of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, then Privy Council president, in 2007, have appealed. Their fate will be known on Sept 23 when the Supreme Court issues a final verdict.
It appears that only Boonsong and Phol who served the Yingluck government will receive the severest punishment.
It could be said that corrupt politicians, as well as colour-coded movement leaders, are facing consequences for what they did in the past. In other words, this is accountability, they are being held accountable for what they did to the country.
It could also be said that in the period before business-tycoon-turned-politician Thaksin came to power in 2001, few politicians had been jailed in corruption cases. But thanks to the now-defunct 1997 charter, which introduced stronger checks and balances with a number of independent agencies set up to scrutinise the performance of those in power, politicians who committed malpractice or abused their power have been held to account. The harsher rules have been applied to all sides, as well as those in the private sector and leaders of the yellow-shirt movement.
It's known that Thaksin always gave big rewards to his subordinates. Those serving him well would be included in his cabinet and were supposed to translate his orders, sometimes unlawfully, into action. These people today face the consequences of their bad karma while their bosses, with their enormous wealth, escape punishment and enjoy the good life of crab parties abroad.
But the latest anti-corruption law that has abolished the statute of limitations means they will remain tarred by their past.
Besides, the Shinawatra family has yet to clear all the charges. There is another major court case against Thaksin for allegedly changing regulations on telecom concession fees in favour of companies he owned, causing a loss to the state of 68 billion baht.
His sisters, Yaowapa and Yingluck, are still haunted by the G2G rice deals with a second batch now being considered by the National Anti-Corruption Commission. And the Criminal Court is scheduled to issue a Nov 25 verdict on Thaksin's son, Panthongtae, who was indicted in the Krung Thai-Krisdamahanakorn loans case.
There is speculation that both Yaowapa and Panthongtae have already left the country.
But, as I said, they cannot escape past karma which, without a statute of limitations, will haunt them the same way it did to their subordinates until their dying days.
Chairith Yonpiam is an assistant news editor, Bangkok Post.