Thaksin's "pastry bag" lawyers banned

Pichit

The council's ethics and conduct committee voted unanimously to ban Pichit Chuenban, Supasri Srisawat and Thana Tansiri for violating the council's regulations and code of conduct, panel chairman Sithichok Sricharoen said.

He said the three acted in contempt of court and each had been sentenced by the Supreme Court to six months in jail for the offence.

In June last year, the trio gave a pastry bag filled with Bt2 million in banknotes to an official at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, which was hearing the Ratchadaphisek land scandal case against Thaksin and his then-wife Pojaman.

The lawyers argued that it was the result of a mix-up as they intended to give the court official some pastries instead of the cash.

Sithichok yesterday said this was the most serious case of conduct violation he had experienced since he became a member of the committee over a decade ago.

He said the banned lawyers would not be allowed to act as case lawyers for the next five years. When the ban is completed, they can apply to become registered lawyers again but the Lawyers Council of Thailand will need to approve their applications.

Pichit could not be reached for comment about the matter yesterday.