Verdict a warning to self-serving politicians, says Udom

"Politicians should act as a role model for ethical standards and not abuse their office for self-serving gain," Udom Fuangfung said.

As a member of the Assets Examination Committee, Udom's work  led to yesterday's sentencing of Thaksin to two years in jail for conflict of interest as premier.

Under Article 100 of the National Counter Corruption Commission Act, political office holders, specifically the prime minister and Cabinet members, are banned from involving themselves or their spouses in a business transaction or contract with a government agency.

Udom said he was satisfied with the guilty conviction and punishment although Thaksin had escaped criminal culpability for corruption, a graver charge.

Thaksin's wife and co-defendant Pojaman was acquitted on grounds that she was not a political office holder.

Since Thaksin is living in exile in London, the next step is for the Attorney-General's Office to seek his extradition to serve out the prison term. The government has 10 years to bring the fugitive back.

The Supreme Court's judgement is final unless the defence finds fresh evidence to appeal to the court's full bench.

Former AEC member Kaewsan Atibhodi said the long arm of the law punished Thaksin for breaching ethical norms but stopped short of holding him and his wife accountable for graft because of insufficient evidence.