Agence France-Presse

BANGKOK - Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra distanced himself from his lawyers Thursday after they were jailed for attempting to bribe a judge with a candy box stuffed with money.

Three lawyers defending Thaksin on corruption charges were sentenced to six months jail time each Wednesday for hiding two million baht (59,800 dollars) in cash and sending it to a Supreme Court judge.

In a statement released through his personal spokesman Phonthep Thepanjana, Thaksin said he accepted the court's ruling.

"Thaksin respects the court's decision and expresses his regret over the incident," Phonthep said.

"The allegation may make Thaksin look bad but I want to ask, how would this kind of action benefit Thaksin?" he added.

The lawyers had been caught when security officers checking the candy box alerted the judge.

A three-judge Supreme Court panel found Pichit Cheunban, Thaksin's chief lawyer, and his two assistants guilty of attempting to illegally influence the court. All had denied the charges.

Further legal action on a separate charge of criminal bribery is expected.

The ruling puts three of his top lawyers in prison just weeks before the Supreme Court is expected to hear a case against Thaksin, accusing him and his wife of using political influence to win a sweetheart property deal in 2003.

Thaksin and his wife each face up to 13 years in prison if found guilty.

Royalist generals toppled Thaksin's government in 2006, accusing him of widespread corruption. Investigators have frozen about two billion dollars worth of his assets, but have yet to convict him on any charges.

"Thaksin and his wife have returned to Thailand to fight the corruption allegations against them. He is confident in his innocence," Phonthep said.

"I am ready to defend my case in the court of justice," the statement quoted Thaksin as saying.

Phonthep said the candy-box incident would not affect the court case against Thaksin.

"Thaksin wants the justice procedure to run its course. He is not worried that this case (against his lawyers) will affect the case against him," Phongthep added.