Chuwit, 43 others jailed two years for damaging bars

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction against Chuwit and 43 men he hired to raid and destroy the bars but the highest court reduced the jail term from five to two years.

The court reasoned that Chuwit had paid compensation to the bar owners so the jail term was commuted though they were ordered to serve the sentence, which was not suspended.

Chuwit, the leader of Rak Prathet Thai Party, owned the Sukhumwit Silver Star when the raid took place. He sent his workers to destroy the bars on Sukhumvit Soi 10 at 4am on January 25 2003.

The men, backed up by bulldozers, tore down some 60 bars on the 10-rai plot. Chuwit was hired to tear down the bar by the developer of the plot, the court was told.

Initially, public prosecutors and the owners of the bars filed a lawsuit against Chuwit and 129 other men.

The Criminal Court acquitted the defendants but the Appeals Court sentenced Chuwit and 65 others to five years in jail.

Chuwit and 43 others appealed against the ruling and the Supreme Court upheld the conviction but reduced the jail term.