The 28-year-old law expert has joined anti-Thaksin protests many times.

Five years ago, Sastra was disappointed at the Constitution Court verdict acquitting Thaksin of concealing his assets. He handed out flyers attacking the court and was monitored by police.

But yesterday may have been the happiest day in Sastra's life when the Supreme Administrative Court decided to accept his petition asking for the cancellation of concessions granted to Shin Corp for operating communications satellite, cellular and television broadcasting businesses.

His reason for taking legal action was he thought Shin Corp was no longer entitled to hold the licences because its businesses were under the control of Temasek Holdings of Singapore.

"I'm delighted with the ruling. But this case won't end easily. It will be an epic [struggle]. But I will fight to the end," he told The Nation.

He said when he learned that the Shinawatra family had sold Shin Corp stock to Temasek, he suddenly realised that the deal wasn't constitutional.

He then started studying all the legal aspects and found that the foreign stake violated Articles 39 and 40 of the Constitution, which stipulate that only Thais can own media and telecommunications businesses, considered as state assets.

After that, Sastra had a

chance to take to the stage at the mass rallies organised by the People's Alliance for Democracy, where he talked about the transaction. He was then encoura-

ged by protesters to file the petition.

However, the Central Administrative Court dismissed his petition, saying Sastra was not an affected party. But the Supreme Administrative Court reversed the lower court's ruling, saying Sastra was a user of such telecom services and entitled to a hearing.

Sastra has been lecturing at the Law Faculty of Rangsit University for three years.

He teaches public administration contract law, which relates to cases that can be lodged with the Administrative Court.

He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in law at Thammasat University, where he was a student of rector Surapol Nitikraipoj.

"Whenever law academics had meetings to issue statements I was always took notes so I could learn from them," he said.

His diligence has paid off.

"I have consistently questioned what Thaksin and his family have done throughout his political reign," he said.

The young legal expert just might be remembered as the person who squashed the Bt73.3-billion "deal of the century", if the court finds against it.

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation