Ousted premier's 'candy box' lawyer put behind bars

BANGKOK, July 1 (TNA) - Thai police Monday escorted a lawyer for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to a six-month prison term for alleged involvement in the attempted Bt2 million bribery at the Supreme Court here.

Lawyer Thana Tansiri, who was earlier assigned to fight the Bangkok land
case lawsuit on Mr. Thaksin's behalf, was escorted by police to Bangkok
Special Prison after he was taken to hear the Supreme Court verdict
charging him and two other lawyers for attempting to bribe a court
official.

On June 25, the Supreme Court sentenced Mr. Thana along with Pichit
Chuenban and his aides, Suphasri Srisawat to six-months each in prison.

Police had earlier arrested Pichit and Suphasri and sent them to Bangkok
Special Prison after the verdict was passed, but not Thana who was then
receiving medical care at a private Bangkok hospital.

Mr. Thana, who had allegedly handed over bribe money in 1,000-baht
banknotes in a snack box to the court official, had said it was just a
pack of chocolates when the incident was brought to light.

The lawyer will be spending his time in the same cell with his two
colleagues. Police said they would continue investigation and determine
the real owner of the bribery money. (TNA)