Thailand has a history of leaders who get into legal trouble and decide fleeing is the best option with Thaksin as the most recent example.

Next on the list is ex-PM Samak (ie the crude and uncultured loud-mouth) who, upon being given two years in prison, suddenly has cancer. His legal team have used this as an excuse for him to not have to go to prison as he should have and he's requested permission to leave Thailand to seek treatment for his 'cancer' in the US.

The fact that the courts have granted his request is astonishing given their recent gaffe in allowing Thaksin and his wife to leave Thailand to attend the Olympics in China never to return (admittedly only his wife was a convicted felon at the time). I imagine all criminals feel they should be permitted an overseas trip before serving prison time, but most can't afford the 'fee' to make it so.

I hope everyone realises that Samak is not coming back and that he is following in the footsteps of his predecessor Thaksin. I wonder if he will seek asylum in the US.