Samak appeals conviction

Written by Writer on Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

Bangkok Post
Thursday October 23, 2008

Former prime minister Samak Samak Sundaravej yesterday lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court against his two-year prison sentence for defaming a former deputy city governor. His lawyer Prachum Thongmee filed the appeal on his behalf at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court.

The Court of Appeals last month stood by the Criminal Court’s ruling that Mr Samak and co-host Dusit Siriwan were guilty on four counts of defaming Samart Ratchapolsitte on TV talk shows in 2006.

During the shows, the two suggested that a construction firm bought Mr Samart’s wife a Series 7 BMW as a kickback for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration construction projects.

Mr Prachum said Mr Samak defended every point in the Appeal Court’s ruling, both with legal issues and facts.

The facts Mr Samak presented had received Attorney-General Chaikasem Nitisiri’s endorsement, he said, declining to give more detail. However, he had no idea whether Mr Dusit would also appeal by the Friday deadline.

He expected the court to take a few days to decide whether to accept Mr Samak’s appeal.The Election Commission yesterday approved Mr Samak’s Sept 26 resignation as the leader of the People Power party.

Election commissioner Prapun Naigowit said the PPP’s executive board was automatically dissolved as a result.