Thaksin lawyers guilty of attempted bribery

Updated June 26, 2008 08:12:33

Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra returned home in February this year to face corruption charges. [AFP]

Members of the legal team representing Thailand's ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, have been sentenced to jail for attempting to bribe court officers earlier this month.

As Southeast Asia Correspondent Karen Percy reports three of Mr Thaksin's legal representatives have been found guilty of contempt of court after visiting the Supreme Court on June 10 to drop off a package containing pastries and 2 million baht, or about $US60,000.

The court ruled the three had attempted to bribe court officials.

Mr Thaksin is fighting several corruption cases brought against him after being pushed from office in the 2006 military coup.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the current Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, to step down.

He faces a vote of no confidence in the parliament Thursday because of his government's close ties with Mr Thaksin.