A man arrested while trying to hand yaba during court trial

Banjong Soikaew was attending a court hearing into whether his assets would be seized for his possession of 2,880 methamphetamine pills with the intent to sell.

Criminal Court guards also apprehended Songkran Chaiyawong when he was seen handing 30 ecstasy pills to Banjong Soikaew in the court.

Songkran was charged with contempt of court and with possession of the 30 ecstasy pills as well as two packages of "ice" and 30 illicit Erimin tablets that were found underneath his bench in Courtroom 905. The drugs were all said to be his.

Songkran told Phaholyothin police that a man paid him Bt20,000 to hand all the drugs to Banjong in the courtroom. Songkran said he needed the money for his wedding expenses.

Banjong is likely to have his assets seized after public prosecutors told the court that he had bought a car, two motorcycles, and gold jewellery with his drug money. He was arrested with two other people in a drug bust in May 2006.