At press briefings at Parliament in early May, Sophon and Buason criticised the court and questioned its power to deal with certain cases filed against the election commissioners.

Judging from the available facts and evidence, the two defendants had the intention of threatening, harassing and influencing the court, and they deserved severe punishment, said a statement released by the court. However, given their show of remorse, there were grounds for leniency, it said.

In their testimonies before the court last Wednesday, the two politicians admitted they had made the offending statements but said they had no intention of insulting the court.

They would apologise to the court if their remarks were regarded as contempt, they said.

The Administrative Court Act of 1999 empowers the court to set a penalty for contempt, ranging from a warning to imprisonment.

Sophon, commenting on yesterday's ruling, thanked the court for its leniency and said he found the case to be a good lesson for him.

"I'd like to warn my fellow politicians that they should be extra careful when making comments about courts," he said.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the ruling, the Thai Rak Thai Party has advised its members and MPs to avoid giving interviews about courts, party spokesman Sita Divari said. He said the party would take the case as a lesson.

The Nation