Thaksin's three lawyers complete jail term

Phichit Chuenban and Thana Tansiri left the prison at 6 AM and quickly got into the cars their family brought to pick them up to avoid throngs of reporters waiting to interview them.

Supasri Srisawat, a clerk who was convicted on the same charge was also released from the Central Female Prison at 9.30 am.

Two weeks ago police dropped the bribery charge against the three lawyers and reported their decision to Special Public Prosecutor of the Criminal Litigation Department, Somjet Chaichalermpreecha. A public prosecutor team has been appointed to look into the case and would decide whether to pursue or drop the case. The prosecutors may come up with different opinion from the police and can ask for further investigation.

Angkanung Lebnark, director of the Central Female Prison said Supasri could not adjust to the prison life and was under heavy stress in the beginning. Prison officials had to look after her closely fearing she could hurt herself. She was persuaded to ordain as a Buddhist nun to help calm her down but she had health problem - the kidney disease that kept her back from joining the programme.

On June 10, the three found guilty of contempt of court for trying to bribe ML Thitipong Chompoonuch, a legal officer at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, and his colleagues by handing the paper bag containing the snack box stuffed with some Bt2 million in cash.

The lawyers represented Thaksin and then his wife Pojaman Shinawatra in the trial, in which the ex-premier is accused of abusing power while in office for a sweetheart deal with the government involving the purchase of the 33-rai of land on Ratchadapisek Road.