Foes of Thaksin Shinawatra cheered when, on October 21st, the Supreme Court in Bangkok sentenced the former prime minister to two years' jail over his wife's purchase of land from a state agency in 2003. It was the first conviction against Mr Thaksin in the various corruption cases filed since the 2006 military coup, although his wife was sentenced to three years'jail for tax evasion in July.rnThis week's verdict boosted the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is seeking the downfall of the pro-Thaksin government elected last December and led by Somchai Wongsawat, Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law. The pad, supported by Thailand's royalist establishment, has been camped out in the grounds of Government House since August, with little effort being made to dislodge it.rnHowever, Mr Thaksin and his wife, Pot-jaman, will not be enjoying the hospitality of the Thai prison service just yet-or perhaps ever.
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