Former police officer jailed for offering bribe to Constitutional Court judge

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: The Criminal Court today jailed former Tambon Phokaew police chief Col Charnchai Netiratthakarn for three years for offering a bribe of 30 million baht to then Constitutional Court judge ML Krairirk Kasemsan.

The bribe was to help the Thai Rak Thai Party in a party dissolution case.

The court noted that Col Charnchai had twice attempted to bribe ML Krairirk, and although the money was never paid, the crime had been committed.

The court said that Col Charnchai’s claim that he was joking was not reasonable because he went to see ML Krairirk twice during this time period, despite having never previously visited the judge.

The court noted that Col Charnchai also told ML Krairirk that he owed a debt of gratitude to “Khunying Or”, apparently referring to the then wife of former prime minister and Thai Rak Thai Party leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Col Charnchai said that he would appeal the ruling.

— Phuket Gazette Editors