Prison guards escort convicted election commissioner Virachai Naewboonnien to Chulalongkorn Hospital for dialysis treatment yesterday. He accepted a white rose from nurses before being taken back to Bangkok Remand Prison.

The convicted election commissioners had to stay in jail for a second day yesterday after the Supreme Court turned down their request for bail - despite them finally resigning from their posts.

"The commissioners have been seriously indicted of damaging democracy under the constitutional monarchy and causing a deep rift in society," the court said in its refusal to grant bail.

"We believe that if the three defendants were granted temporary release, they could cause more damage and obstruct the judicial proceedings," the statement said.

The court's dismissal of the bail request came after EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp and commissioners Prinya Nakchudtree and Virachai Naewboonnien resigned.

EC secretary-general Ekkachai Warunprapha was believed to have brought letters of resignation for the three to sign when he visited them in the morning.

Hours later, Ekkachai informed Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua in writing that the commissioners had resigned and that the process to select new election commissioners could go ahead. The document was attached to resignation letters from the EC trio.

Copies of the letters, addressed to the EC secretary-general, were also attached to the bail request lodged at the Supreme Court.

Vasana did not give any reason in his letter, but Prinya and Virachai stated that they want to comply with the court's order.

EC lawyer Jessada Chandee said he would appeal again for the commissioners' release.

The Criminal Court on Tuesday convicted Vasana, Prinya and Virachai of mishandling the April 2 snap election. They were sentenced to four years in prison and had their right to vote revoked for 10 years.

The three applied for release on bail, but Criminal Court and then the Appeal Court both rejected their applications, which led to their being taken to Bangkok Remand Prison on Tuesday afternoon.

The two courts claimed that, if the EC members were released on bail, they could return to oversee a new general election, and there was a risk that errors committed in the April 2 election - later nullified - could be repeated.

Virachai said yesterday he accepted the Criminal Court verdict. He had not resigned earlier, he said, because public opinion was split between those who wanted the election commissioners to resign and those who wanted them to stay on; there had not been a clear decision on the matter.

"I thought I was still entitled to work. But since the court verdict, everything is over."

Virachai spoke during a temporary release from prison to get treatment at Chulalongkorn University Hospital for a kidney complaint.

He denied reports he had to be hospitalised due to the stress from being jailed. He said he had suffered from kidney problems for several years and had to see doctors three days a week.

Virachai was undecided about whether to go into the monkhood after his sentence was over.

After being treated, he was sent back to prison to await the Supreme Court decision on whether he and his colleagues would get bail.

Family members and dozens of supporters went to the prison last night to visit Virachai, Vasana and Prinya. Guards could not allow them all in, so they gave the new inmates a list to pick who they most wanted to see.

Prinya's wife Darapan, admitted her husband was under stress because he had never been in such a situation and was worried about whether he would be granted bail.

She said she was proud of her husband and shocked that he had met such a fate.

Worawee, his son, said he was proud of his father for "protecting democracy" and was confident of his innocence. "I never doubt that my father is a man of integrity. I believe what he has done was right," he said.

Senior officials who visited the three included trade representative Sompong Amornwawit, permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, Sucharit Patchimnand, and Department of Special Investigations deputy chief Police Col Thawee Sodsong.

On the second day in prison, Vasana wore shorts and a yellow T-shirt; Prinya wore long trousers and yellow T-shirt, but Virachai was still in the same clothes he wore yesterday.

Vasana and Prinya ate rice porridge brought to them by EC officials who visited.