Thai court bans top leader of pro-Thaksin party

A top leader of Thailand's People Power Party (PPP) was found guilty of vote buying and banned from politics for 5 years yesterday, a ruling that could lead to the dissolution of the main party in the coalition government.

The Supreme Court decision against deputy leader Yongyut Tiyapairat piles more pressure on the six-party coalition, already weakened by a street campaign against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej which has unsettled investors.

"There was enough evidence to believe that (Yongyut) had violated the 2007 election law," said a judge who read out a verdict broadcast on national television.