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Published on August 8, 2007

Bribes were offered to Constitution Tribunal judges by a retired police colonel in an effort to save the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party from an election fraud  conviction and subsequent dissolution, it was alleged yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry has ordered a committee to scrutinise its senior officials.

National Police Commis-sion assistant commissioner Pol Lt-General Chongrak Chu-tanont will today seek an arrest warrant from the court for the retired police colonel who allegedly offered a Bt30 million bribe to Supreme Court vice president ML Krairerk Kasemsan, one of the Consti-tution Tribunal judges who ruled on the party dissolution case.

Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Phakditha-nakul dropped the bombshell bribery allegation in June, saying a senior official tried to secure a "not guilty verdict" for Thai Rak Thai by offering money to the judges.

Later, Weera Somkwamkid, secretary-general to the Anti-Corruption People's Network, filed a complaint with police accusing high-ranking court officials and a police colonel who graduated from Thamma-sat University's Faculty of Law in 1966, of violating Article 167 of the Criminal Law for offering bribes and Article 157 of the Criminal law for malfeasance.

"We have solid evidence which is the completely credible testimony of judges and former senior judges, with especially incriminating testimony from ML Krairerk. Although the judges did not accept the bribe, the offence was committed and the suspect must be prosecuted," Chongrak said.

He had earlier questioned Justice Minister Chanchai Likhitjitta, Justice Ministry permanent-secretary Charan Phakdithanakul and former judge Udom Fuangfung over the bribery allegation.

Police will decide whether to issue arrest warrants for the high-ranking court officials suspected of involvement in the bribery allegation after investigation by a fact-finding panel headed by Supreme Court vice president Wirat Limwichai, Chongrak said.

Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrawd had ordered a disciplinary inquiry panel be set-up after the fact-finding panel headed by Wirat found that the bribery allegation was valid, Office of the Court of Justice spokesman Saravud Benchakul said.

The panel found that court officials who are not judges were involved in the bribery. They knew that Krairerk and Supreme Court judge Somchai Pongsatha were offered bribes but both refused to accept.

Charan said that those who were not judges and were accused of involvement in the bribery allegation must face criminal action.

Asked how he felt about the development of the case he brought into the spotlight, Charan said he did it as a lesson and as a warning to others not to offer bribes to judges.

Office of the Court of Justice deputy secretary-general Sara-vud Benchakul said the office would this week appoint a disciplinary inquiry panel comprising a chairman - whose position would be equivalent to Supreme Court vice president - and two other members who are senior judges.

Saravud said the fact-finding panel had found that the court officials in question did not act as middle-men between the police colonel and the judges.

"What they did was talk about the bribery. The panel believes there must be a further investigation," he said.

Saravud refused to name the court officials who may face the disciplinary inquiry.

Court officials found guilty by the disciplinary panel could face punishment of probation or termination of employment.

Kesinee Taengkhio,

Kwanhathai Malakarn

The Nation