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Published on December 7, 2007

Pinij was cleared on Tuesday over claims he sought to buy off judges to rule in favour of the Thak Rak Thai Party in its dissolution case in late May.

Weera said he was tipped off by Judicial Service Commission members that they were lobbied to exonerate Pinij. The JSC voted 10-4 in Pinij's favour, citing lack of evidence.

Weera questioned the integrity of the JSC's decision, saying a disciplinary panel had earlier ruled 2-1 that the bribery allegation had grounds, which conformed with the result of the investigation by the fact-finding panel headed by Supreme Court President Wirat Limwichai.

Weera said clearing Pinij was the only way to end the bribery allegation against him and help others escape the law. He said some of the majority JSC members were subordinates of Pinij. Some were outsiders who know nothing about judicial circles. Four who abstained were judges.

"Some judges said they were disappointed in the results of the investigation because both the fact-finding and disciplinary panels found the bribery allegation was justified. It seems the judicial circle is back to the Dark Ages. Some JSC members who abstained said they were being transferred for not voting for Pinij," he said.

A Constitution Tribunal judge who ruled to dissolve Thai Rak Thai said he felt saddened by the JSC case. He wondered why the JSC overrode the two panels. A source said the JSC widely discussed the matter before the vote.

The Nation