Ex-PM Samak loses court case; bail granted

BANGKOK, Sept 25 (TNA) - Thailand's Appeals Court upheld the Lower
Court's two-year jail sentence against former prime minister Samak
Sundaravej in a libel lawsuit.

Mr. Samak was forced out of office following an earlier verdict by the
Constitution Court, which had found him guilty of having received payment
in a TV cooking show.

Mr. Prachum Thongmee, lawyer for former prime minister Samak, said the
court granted his client temporary release on Bt200,000 bail and receipt
of a letter from the House Speaker stating that he is a Member of
Parliament as the current House is in session.

The ex-premier's lawyer said he would discuss with his client the issue of
filing an appeal to the Supreme Court within 30 days as required by the
law.

The ex-premier, who appeared in court to hear the verdict, refused to
answer any questions. He has maintained a low profile since being removed
from the premiership on September 9.

Avoiding the media after the court verdict, Mr. Samak was whisked away
from an army of reporters through the court's back door before his driver
drove him home.

Mr. Samak and Mr. Dusit Siriwan, a former Prime Minister's Office
minister, had both been earlier sentenced to two-year jail terms on
charges of making slanderous statements against Samart Ratchapholsit, a
former Bangkok deputy governor, involving contractor deals during their TV
news programme two years ago.

The fact that the Criminal Court verdict had not suspended the jail
sentence prompted the ex-premier to file an appeal.(TNA)