Ousted Thai Premier's Prison Sentence Upheld

Samak Loses Defamation Case Appeal

BANGKOK, Sept. 25 -- A Thai appeals court Thursday upheld a conviction and two-year jail sentence in a defamation case against Samak Sundaravej, confirming the downfall of the country's former prime minister.

Samak was forced out of office Sept. 9 after another court found he had violated the constitution by accepting paid employment as a television chef while holding national office.

The appeals court judges said Thursday they had found no reason to overturn a lower criminal court decision that found Samak guilty of defaming the deputy governor of Bangkok in another television appearance in January 2006, this time on a political talk show he hosted.

He had accused the deputy governor, Samart Ratchapolasit, of receiving a luxury car as a gift from a construction company. Samart was able to prove he had paid for the car.

Samart is also pursuing the former prime minister through the civil courts, where he is seeking the equivalent of $2.95 million in damages.

Samak, who used to host a television program called "Cooking and Grumbling," has courted controversy for most of his long political career, and the appeals court said his refusal to back down in the defamation case had contributed to its judgment.

"The courts have given the defendant chances to reform and change his behavior, but the defendant has not changed. So there is no reason to reduce the punishment," the appeals court said in its decision, which was read aloud by a judge.

Samak's attorney said his client would appeal the verdict to Thailand's Supreme Court, and the former prime minister remains free on bail.

Thursday's decision was the latest blow to the country's ruling People Power Party, which Samak formerly headed.

The party is facing sustained challenges not only from prosecutors but also from an opposition group known as the People's Alliance for Democracy. Prosecutors accuse senior People Power officials of vote-buying in the most recent election -- charges that could result in disbandment of the party.

The People's Alliance forcibly occupied the prime minister's offices in central Bangkok on Aug. 26 and has vowed to continue the occupation until the government falls. Opposition officials say both Samak and his successor, Somchai Wongsawat, are too close to Thaksin Shinawatra, another former prime minister whom they accuse of corruption.

Thaksin was thrown out of office in a military coup in 2006. But elections called by the military last year were convincingly won by Samak, who was widely regarded as Thaksin's proxy.

The combative Samak did little to appease his opponents, but Somchai has adopted a more conciliatory line since taking office last week.

His government could be short-lived, however. If the vote-buying charges are found to be true, the People Power Party will be dissolved and new elections will be called for the fourth time in five years.