The Nation reports:
The Supreme Court sentenced to six months in jail a legal team of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over what is called "the Pastry Gate," in which a supreme court official was given a pastry box filled with Bt2 million in cash.
The team members who each face six months in jail for violating the court's authority are lawyer Pichit Chuenban, coordinator Thana Tansiri and clerk Supasri Srisawat.
Pichit is lawyer of Thaksin on the case that he is alleged of abusing of power in purchasing a plot of land in Ratchadapisek area.
Supreme Court Vice President Mongkol Thapthiang, who heads a panel comprising Supreme Court judge Weeraphol Tangsuwan and Issaret Chairat, investigating the case, said Wednesday the panel found the three guilty of the charge.
"The action by the three shows the intention to persuade court officials to commit wrongdoing," the judge 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.
The incident is considered grave because it was happened in the high court of the country. Any lawyer who is convicted of the charge cannot cannot work as a lawyer in any court again. The Law Society of Thailand will also have to take legal action against the lawyers.
Earlier reports said that a lawyer who used to represent a politician walked into the office of the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, which handles the administrative affairs for the graft tribunal, a special court for corruption, early June.
..
After hearing the incident, the senior judge instructed that the money be counted and photographed. The cash was returned to the lawyer, who was present throughout the checking process.
The photograph was considered sufficient evidence for a bribery case. The cash was returned in order to dispel a counter argument that money already changed hands.
...
Pichit admitted that he and other lawyers had gone to the court on Tuesday, having been assigned by Thaksin and his wife, Pojaman, to file a request to report to the Supreme Court. He said they were there no longer than 30 minutes and did not take any gifts for court officials.
BP: A copy of the decision is here (PDF). The Manager reports that the the pastry box containing 2 million baht of 1,000 baht notes was given to a C5 official on June 10. The three accused are (1) lawyer Pichit Chuenban, (2) clerk Supasri Srisawat and (3) coordinator Thana Tansiri
Accused No. 3 told No. 2 to call M.L. Thithipong Chompunut, an employee of Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, to meet in the lawyer's room just the two of them and that he had some kanom (sweets) to give. After that a paper bag closed with scotch tape to M.L Thithipong. M.L Thithipong then went to ask the chief whether the gift could be accepted. The chief said that couldn't be accepted and when it was opened it was discovered that there were two thousand 1,000 baht notes. The chief then returned it Accused No. 3.
The Court decided that Accused No. 3 did bring the 2 million baht to a court official with the intention and that Accused No. 2 and 3 conspired together. Accused No. 1 and NO. 2 said they had no involvement, but the Court rejected this (ไม่สามารถรับฟังได้)
Reports indicate that Accused No. 2 carried the money on behalf of Thaksin's wife and coordinated with the lawyers.
BP: This is clearly bad news for Thaksin and is fodder for the PAD and the opposition. I am sure Accused No. 1 and 2 will have ample arguments to raise if there is a criminal case - still unsure whether the CCTV was working that day, but in the meantime they go to jail as there is no right of appeal. This specific charge (violating the court's authority) is not serious as it only carries is a maximum penalty of 6 months, but if the bribery case proceeds to trial and any of them are found guilty it would be an even further stain.
It is a little odd that the judiciary acts as investigator and sentence someone particularly as it involves the word of one employee of the court system versus a suspect - are the accused allowed to cross examine witnesses? I still can't get over the fact that the money was returned to the accused and the DSI or some investigative body (NCCC?) was not called so this is likely to be raised again. Then again the whole case is simply bizarre. Why just randomnly give the money to a court official? What if they just pocket it?
I still can't get over the fact that the money was returned to the accused and the DSI or some investigative body (NCCC?) was not called so this is likely to be raised again. Then again the whole case is simply bizarre.
I perfectly agree. "Bizarre" is even an understatement.
This "case" is just another Thai Folie, another episode of the Great Saga.
Why nothing can be normal in this country ?
The "pastrygate" what a joke, really.
Anyway. The people are cheering up : "Thaksin is nailed".
;-)
But what's the point to send to jail 3 delivery boys ? Who gave them those 2 millions ? And for what purposes ?
Here are the real questions that any serious investigation should answer.
I bet that... it will go nowhere.
Furthermore 2 millions to bribe the Supreme Court... I mean it would be the price of a secretary, or a maid !
Anyway... the show must go on.
The masses are entertained.
My take is Thaksin has been trapped. Bribery may have been allowed in the case for some time to lure the lawyers into stupid careless acts like this. And they can't claimed they have bribed the officials or even the judges before because that would have given them bigger problems. But Thaksin, who is known to like to splash cash all over the places to achieve his legal goals, deserves it.
Never a fan of fonzi but he has outdone The Nation in his strong comment on this case. My sincere praise. More of that and TJS could be the most intriguing independent blog around. And, as the other poster rightly pointed out, Thailand's situation is beyond ridiculous now. But shall we look beyond coup, democracy and conspiracy theories and see through all Thaksin cases through clear eyes? I know the cases were put together following a coup. However, the only way for Thailand to move ahead is to see through the cases without prejudice and let the court judge them on legal merits. Otherwise there is no way to end this expanding nonsensical mess.
Surprised by fonzi
At the crystal ball game, those saying that this is the beginning of the end for Thaksin and consors are deluding themselves. This pastrygate thing will be forgotten tomorrow (anyway, 2 million baht is too low a sum to credibly be offered by Thaksin).
Far more potentially damaging is the Kmher temple issue, where the basest nationalistic instincts (and these are raw in Thailand) can be roused. I can see the parallel with the Shingapore issue: Thaksin and co. sell the country's birthright to advance their private interests.
MorDoo Chaokoh
This case is so bizarre that even the anti-Thaksin find it hard to believe easily, like if someone actually write a receipt for corruption.
As Fonzi says in TJTS, the lawyer should be ban for life and put behind bar with full jail time, for both audacity and stupidity.
clearly bad news for Thaksin and is fodder for the PAD and the opposition
On a twisted sense of logic, would not it actually be a bad news for opposition. Because if Thaksin have to bribe the court, then that mean the government is not or can not skewer the judicial system?
It would not really help the opposition cause they are suppose to be talking to this government, not the last one. But definitely fuel the PAD and add to the crowd.
By the way, about time someone goes to jail for trying to bribe the court. The official outcome of the case is irrelevant now, whatever the result, the PAD would find Thaksin guilty.
This case is so bizarre that even the anti-Thaksin find it hard to believe easily, like if someone actually write a receipt for corruption.
As Fonzi says in TJTS, the lawyer should be ban for life and put behind bar with full jail time, for both audacity and stupidity.
clearly bad news for Thaksin and is fodder for the PAD and the opposition
On a twisted sense of logic, would not it actually be a bad news for opposition. Because if Thaksin have to bribe the court, then that mean the government is not or can not skewer the judicial system?
It would not really help the opposition cause they are suppose to be talking to this government, not the last one. But definitely fuel the PAD and add to the crowd.
By the way, about time someone goes to jail for trying to bribe the court. The official outcome of the case is irrelevant now, whatever the result, the PAD would find Thaksin guilty.