FORMER THAI OFFICIAL GUILTY OF SMUGGLING

SAN FRANCISCO - A onetime member of Thailand's Parliament
pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to smuggle marijuana into the
United States.

Thanong Siriprechapong, who had spent 3 1/2 years in federal prison,
was given credit for time served and released to immigration agents
for deportation.

His family had already booked a flight for early today for him to
return to his native country.

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker dropped all other charges
against Thanong. The nearly decadelong case was fraught with delays
brought on by negotiations between the United States and Thailand, and
by an investigation into the possibility of mistakes by
prosecutors.

On hearing the judge's decision, Thanong, 47, smiled and hugged his
lawyers and interpreter.