In just two days, Thai media magnate Sondhi Limthongkul received a
double whammy: He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on 10
September for libel and he lost an appeal in another libel case,
earning him another six-month jail term, media reports said.

In the first case, Thailand's Criminal Court found Sondhi, who is
also the co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, guilty
of defaming former Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula
during one episode of his weekly TV talk show, "Muang Thai Rai
Supada ("Thailand Weekly") aired on 12 January 2007.

"Bangkok Post", an English language daily, said Sondhi was released
on the same day when he posted a bail of THB200,000.

Co-defendant Thaiday Dot Com Co, the producer of the talk show and
operator of ASTV was also found guilty of libel due to its
recording and distribution of Sondhi's statements on VCD and was
fined THB200,000. Khuntong Lorseriwanich, editor and publisher of
"The Manager" newspaper, was also convicted of libel because he
published Sondhi's remarks in the 13-16 January 2007 issues of the
newspaper, and was sentenced to a year's imprisonment. He was also
fined THB30,000.

"Bangkok Post" reported that Sondhi accused MR Pridiyathorn of
having a hand in the illegal sale of two- and three-digit lottery
tickets and amending the law on the Government Lottery Office to
clear 47 people, including former ministers and GLO executives.

Sondhi also alleged that Pridiyathorn, who was also finance
minister at the time, protected former revenue department chief
Sirote Sawasdipanich from prosecution over his failure to collect
THB270 million in taxes in the 1997 Shin Corp share case.

Meanwhile, on 11 September, the Appeals Court upheld a separate
guilty verdict against Sondhi by the Criminal Court in a libel case
filed by former Deputy Transport Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Phuntam was also the deputy secretary-general of the now-dissolved
Thai Rak Thai Party of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

The lawsuit stated that during a mobile episode of Sondhi's TV talk
show at Wat Pa Ban Tad in Muang district of Udon Thani on 25
November 2005, Sondhi accused Phumtham of being a member of the
"October 14'' group, known for its links with communists.

The Criminal Court on 25 March 2007 had convicted Sondhi of libel
and sentenced him to two years' imprisonment. Program producer
Thaiday Dot Com Co was fined THB200,000.

The Appeals Court commuted Sondhi's prison term to six months.

"Bangkok Post" quoted Sondhi as saying that he would file appeals
on these two cases.