SAMAK FAILS TO OVERTURN 2-YEAR JAIL TERM

BANGKOK, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Two weeks after his passion for cooking cost him the premiership, former prime minister Samak Sundaravej failed to overturn a two-year jail term for defamation.

The Appeals Court Thursday upheld a Criminal Court conviction of Samak and
co-host Dusit Siriwan for defaming former deputy Bangkok governor Samart
Ratchapholsit during a television talk show.

In April last year, the Criminal Court sentenced Samak and Dusit to 24
months jail after both were found guilty of alleging that Samart was involved in
corrupt practice during their "Chao Wan Nee Tee Chong Ha" (Today at Channel
Five) and "Samak-Dusit Kid Tam Wan" (Samak-Dusit's Daily Thoughts)
shows.

Samak, who was present in the court, and Dusit have been given 30 days to
appeal to the Supreme Court.

On Sept 9, the Constitution Court disqualified Samak after finding him
guilty of violating the 2007 Constitution by hosting the "Tasting and Grumbling
and All Set at 6am" cooking programme while still in office.

The former Bangkok governor became the 25th prime minister of the country
in
February after leading the People Power Party (PPP) to victory in the Dec 23,
2007 election.

But his six-party coalition government was in turmoil from the beginning
due
to claims that he was a proxy of ousted prime minister Thaksin
Shinwatra.

On Aug 26, the anti-govermment People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) seized
the Government House and is still occupying the premises, forcing the government
to function from the Don Mueng Airport.

The outspoken Samak tried to make a comeback after the Constitution Court
decision but was snubbed by his own members of parliament from PPP who had
feared his court case today would further ruin the government.

He has been replaced by Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat.
-- BERNAMA