Posted: September 08, 2008, 2:21 PM by DrewHasselback

We ve seen no shortage of reports about the on-going unrest in Thailand as Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej resists calls to quit. 

Samak is also on the hot-seat in the country s Constitutional Court, where he s defending himself against a charge that he broke Thai law by hosted a cooking show. 

A group of Thai senators has complained to the court that Samak was illegally paid for hosting his show, Tasting, Complaining, while serving as Prime Minister. Thai law bans cabinet ministers from working for private companies while in office.

Samak appeared at court on Monday to defend himself. "I didn t request any payment," he told the court, according to a report by Bloomberg News.

Some background is in order. Samak hosted Tasting, Complaining for some seven years prior to his election as Prime Minister last December. He maintains that after won office and was appointed Prime Minister, he ceased collecting "salary" for the broadcasts, though he did admit to receiving "compensation."

A verdict is expected on Tuesday.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/legalpost/archive/2008/09/08/celebrity-chef-cooks-up-constitutional-crisis.aspx