Having a bad day ?
You bet. The ex Prime Minister, the Chef, the Cook, the Humiliated took a new blow today, after his downfall 2 weeks ago (read here) : he lost his appeal in a defamation case… 2 years jail term confirmed.
He was granted… bail. His only hope now : the Supreme Court.
The Appeals Court upholds a lower court’s two-year jail term and a guilty verdict in a defamation case against former PM Samak Sundaravej and Dusit Siriwan. The defence is expected to file for another appeal with the Supreme Court within 30 days.
The Appeals Court this morning ruled that the counter argument filed by defendant Samak Sundaravej and Dusit Siriwan were groundless. It decided to uphold the guilty verdict and the jail term handed down by a lower Bangkok Criminal Court.
The Appeals Court however granted bail to both Samak and Dusit. Each of them submitted 200,000 baht worth of assets as collateral. (TOC)
When Samak fell in the cooking show case, I wrote “he’s going back where he belongs : History’s garbages“.
Maybe I should have said : …. jail ? 
Don’ get me wrong… I’m not sure the verdict is fair… I mean many people defame on a daily basis other people in Thailand. It’s like a national sport, and because we have so much wrong doings… it’s easy to find (good) ammunitions.
But not everybody is getting convicted with 2 years jail… Far from it.
Therefore, we could share the critics of Bangkok Pundit.
But still, I’m overwhelmed with joy to see the downfall of such a dreadful public personality.
Samak is finished.
And it’s without any doubt a positive point for the country.
Meanwhile Thaksin gets the spare room ready.. Hmmm… no Olympics to pretend to watch, but maybe Samak could apply for special ‘you can trust me too’ and jet off on a TG flight to Manila for the annual say, ‘What Animal do I Look Like Contest’ or something. Bet you he doesn’t do a single day in the slammer.
Well, you’re right. It’s -at this moment- inconceivable that Samak could go to jail. His family is so close to the royal institution.
But, I would like to remind you : it was also inconceivable to have arrest warrants issued for an ex PM and his wife… And inconceivable to have such public personality convicted of tax evasion, etc.
Times could change…
Only arrogant people (and Samak is a brillant representative of this group) think that their environnement is like the Third Reich : designed to last a thousand years…
Actually, Samak has previously been convicted for defamation on 3 other cases, and been already given the suspended sentences. So this time, the court says no more chances. While the law on defamation should be reformed since it is often abused, but as it currently stands, I think Samak does not deserves any more leniency and from this perspective the verdict is probably fair.
Personally I would pay quite a lot of money to see this arrogant shithead behind bars.
Bedwyr