Quote:Charan claims senior officials tried to pay bribe in TRT case

Justice Ministry permanent-secretary Charan Pakdithanakul Monday claimed that a senior official tried but failed to pay kickbacks for an acquittal verdict in the electoral fraud case involving the Thai Rak Thai Party.

"A ranking official approached Constitution Tribunal judges and offered them bribes to fix the verdict," Charan said in reference to the last month's guilty verdict and dissolution of the former ruling party.

He refused to name the official and the judges involved.

"Someone might have thought that money could buy everything," he said, sidestepping a question on the amount of money offered.

Reacting to Charan's comments, tribunal judge Thanis Kesawapirak said he was unaware of any bribery attempts.

"I formed my decision based on legal principles and did not know how Charan got his information," he said.

The Nation

If this is the case and not just anti TRT hype, the judges approached should have stepped down and reported the incident, to avoid any pretext that something unethical could happen in the verdict. This did not happen and as such the verdict has to be anulled and a new trial called. By not stepping down, if there was indeed any wrongdoing, the judges put themselves above the law and could not have acted in an impartial manner as they would have been directly involved. This could explain the somewhat strong ruling and harsh punishment that no one expected. It may even explain General S's quick response and an offer of amnesty so soon.

lukamar Wrote:Reacting to Charan's comments, tribunal judge Thanis Kesawapirak said he was unaware of any bribery attempts.

"I formed my decision based on legal principles and did not know how Charan got his information," he said.

Even if somebody's approach was noticed by a third person, before a judge could be accused of having been biased, it would be necessary to prove beyond doubt that the approached judge was aware of the attempted bribery. Guess that won't be the case.

Quote:Attempted bribery of charter tribunal alleged

Justice permanent secretary Jarun Pukditanakul is lodging a complaint with the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) against senior civil servants who allegedly tried to bribe judges on the Constitution Tribunal in the run-up to the May 30 electoral fraud verdicts. Mr Jarun said he wanted the NCCC to investigate three parties allegedly involved in the bribery attempt _ the bribers, the brokers and those the kickbacks were to be offered to.

A successful bribery requires conspiracy from these three parties, said Mr Jarun.

''Fortunately, none of the Constitution Tribunal judges were inclined to take the bribe,'' he said.

He will hand the NCCC his complaint and evidence, particularly that implicating two people believed to have acted as brokers in the attempted bribery, today.

''The brokers should be punished as well. Their behaviour shouldn't be swept under the carpet as they might repeat their crime.

''The two are civil servants, but they are not attached to the Justice Ministry,'' said the justice permanent secretary.

He declined to name the people implicated in his complaints and the two judges who were offered the bribes.

Mr Jarun said the two judges did not want to reveal their names.

He said the evidence of the alleged attempted bribery is solid enough for the Office of the Judiciary to take legal action against the brokers and the briber.

The two brokers had earlier tried to bribe judges in other cases as well, said Mr Jarun.

The evidence Mr Jarun will hand to the NCCC is a letter stating the briber's intention to provide kickbacks to two Constitution Tribunal judges.

The letter was signed by a senior civil servant who also identified himself as a Class 9 law school alumnus, he said.

A source in the Supreme Court said the brokers Mr Jarun referred to are senior military officials.

Sarawut Benjathikul, spokesman for the Office of the Judiciary, said the Supreme Court president and also president of the Constitution Tribunal, Panya Thanomrod, has learned about Mr Jarun's plan to lodge a complaint with the NCCC through news reports.

Mr Panya was concerned that the reports might affect the reputation of all the judges on the Constitution Tribunal, who are also judges in the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court, said Mr Sarawut.

The Office of the Judiciary has begun an internal investigation into Mr Jarun's allegation.

However, the office does not have enough detailed information on the case, he said.

Mr Sarawut has asked Mr Jarun to hand the Office of the Judiciary details and evidence of the alleged attempted bribery, so that it can continue with its internal investigation

Were they brokering for an acquittal or for the verdict that was give..... In the first report of the incident was worded so you thought that it was a TRT official now they are civil servants... Sounds like disinformation and why not name the judges that were approached?

It should be of interest here that Sonthi's chief of staff General Montri Sangkhasap was Pre-Cadet Class 9. Montri's domination over the Isoc gives him “back-door” control over the entire government machinery.

Quote:JUSTICE

Panya denies evidence exists of attempted tribunal bribes

Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrod denied he had evidence of an alleged attempt to bribe two judges of the Constitution Tribunal prior to the May 30 electoral fraud trial rulings. Mr Panya, also president of the Constitution Tribunal, was dragged into the controversy when People's Network for Anti-Corruption secretary-general Veera Somkwamkid said he had learned that there was a ''note'' given to two judges on the Constitution Tribunal offering huge kickbacks.

However, Mr Panya insisted before the Judicial Commission that he knew nothing about a note or any other evidence related to the allegation, said Office of the Judiciary spokesman Sarawut Benjathikul, quoting Mr Panya's statements to a commission meeting yesterday.

His office, the Office of the President of the Supreme Court, and the Office of the Constitution Court have also looked into Mr Veera's claim and found none of the suggested evidence, Mr Sarawut said.

He asked Mr Veera to carefully check whether he is being used by someone to discredit the judges.

The alleged scandal was unveiled to the public last week when permanent secretary for justice Jarun Pukditanakul filed charges with the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) against senior civil servants who tried to bribe the judges on the Constitution Tribunal.

Mr Sarawut agreed that there must be a probe of alleged bribery and he was awaiting detailed information. He said he asked for written information from Mr Jarun but there was no response.

Mr Sarawut said the information given by Mr Jarun seemed to be inconsistent.

The permanent secretary implicated an official in the Justice Ministry in the alleged bribery attempt, but later said it was a ''man in uniform'', he said, adding Mr Jarun will be held responsible if the information turns out to be false.
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