Prachai found guilty for contempt and Matchima in limbo

Prachai immediately sought and received the temporary release by posting Bt20,000 cash for bail in order to avoid stepping inside the cell before he would have a chance to petition for his appellate review.

Under the election law, Prachai faces automatic disqualification from the race if he was imprisoned for any duration under a court order.

Prachai was found guilty for contempt after criticising his Monday's conviction for stock manipulation as an unfair decision influenced by the "old power" clique, the euphemism for the Thaksin Shinawatra government.

The court ruled that it found no cause to grant leniency as Prachai portrayed the judicial review as unfair and under the influence of former prime minister Thaksin.

"Prachai is a welleducated man with an important position in the political party, hence there is no justification to suspend his jail term," the court said in its ruling.

In his defence, Prachai showed remorse during the court's hearing and issued his deepest apology for his remarks.

On Thursday's evening, Prachai convened a highlevel party meeting to sort out party affairs ahead of his court session.

He reportedly told his party's candidates that they had to campaign on their own without his financial support while he tried to resolve his legal wrangling.

He also banned his deputy Thanaporn Sriyakul from entering the party's headquaters on suspicion of acting like a spy for Thaksin.

He put a distance between himself and the Matchima faction members, including his party secretary general Anongwan Thepsuthin.

Anongwan closed down her office in Prachai's TPI building hours before the court session.

The Nation