We are equally grateful to the judges for renewing the intrigue of Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka's case by sentencing a man responsible for her controversial appointment as auditor-general to jail. And it would be unfair not to express gratitude to the caretaker government for making one heck of a legal mess out of what should be a straightforward "holiday" for Thaksin Shinawatra.

Two more court cases or rulings, and a lot of Thais may have a mental breakdown. We've lost count of how many political lawsuits there are. We've forgotten how the Jaruvan controversy even came about and how depressing it is to wake up and hear your prime minister threaten to sue anyone who does not think him legally entitled to return to work after tearfully moving all of his belongings out of Government House. The Election Commission (EC) - what can we say? And adding to the general despair, Banharn Silapa-archa has emerged as a compromise choice for the chief executive's post.

The courts are working overtime, which is pretty much appreciated. But then again, the quicker the better. One only has to log on to two rival websites - pantip.com and manager.co.th - to see how ridiculous it's all become.

Following the Criminal Court's ruling sentencing State Audit Commission (SAC) chairman Panya Tantiyavarong to three years in jail in connection with the Jaruvan controversy, posters on pantip.com hailed it as a victory for the Thaksin camp. Those on manager.co.th were not to be outdone; they lauded the court for putting away "Thaksin's lackey".

This much we know: as SAC chairman, Panya in 2001 submitted to the Senate Prathan Dabphet's nomination for the post of auditor-general. Some senators protested, demanding a "list" of candidates instead of just a single nominee, and Panya complied. Prathan was renominated, along with Jaruvan and Nonthapol Nimsombun. The Senate selected Jaruvan, which triggered a protest, and the Constitution Court declared her election unlawful. Her status was thus subsequently thrown into limbo, but the steely lady, a vocal Thaksin critic, refused to bow out, which resulted in a major impasse.

So, with Jaruvan's status having recently been endorsed following the downturn in Thaksin's fortunes, what does the harsh court ruling against Panya mean? Some analysts see it as a setback for Jaruvan, who is now being asked by Thaksin's supporters to resign. Analysts say the ruling is also making several senators responsible for her rise to the post squirm.

But if this is a pro-Thaksin development, it's about to get somewhat more confusing and complicated. The most powerful branches of the judiciary, namely the Constitution, Supreme Administrative and Supreme courts, have been hell-bent on dislodging the EC, which has been accused of serving as a government tool. Was the Criminal Court's ruling a sign of a major crack forming among the judges?

Whatever it is, the ruling coincides with two other judicial developments seen as tightening the noose on the EC. The Democrat Party's disclosure of closed-circuit video footage from the Defence Ministry is strengthening the case against Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai, in which the party is accused of buying off small parties before the April 2 election. This new evidence has further exposed the EC to charges of malfeasance and partisanship.

The other development involves the Criminal Court yet again, but this time it's not something Thaksin can smile about. The court yesterday set June 19 as the trial date for four EC members who face charges of malfeasance, because of the decision that allowed additional candidates to contest the second round of elections on April 23. The litigation was initiated by Democrat deputy secretary-general Thaworn Senniam.

You just get a feeling that all these key developments are closely related, and something bigger and explosive is bound to happen sooner rather than later. Whatever is in store, we can only hope it will be quick and spontaneous. A good spectacle it has been for quite some time now, but the mess doesn't seem to be getting any smaller, like we hoped it would. Now it's more torture than entertainment. Can someone please help put us out of our misery?

 Tulsathit Taptim