Activists fined for tearing up ballot paper
The criminal court on Tuesday ruled three anti-junta activists guilty of vandalism and handed down a suspended sentence of two months in prison and a fine of Bt2,000 for ripping up a ballot paper in the charter referendum last year.
The penalty was reduced from four-month imprisonment and a Bt4,000 fine after the suspects pleaded guilty. The jail punishment was suspended in one year.
The court heard that the three activists, Piyarat Chingthep, Songtham Kaewpanphruk and Jirawat Ekakaranuwat, vandalised the ballot paper in the vote on the new constitution in August last year. They said it was a demonstration against the process under the coup-installed regime, which they saw as illegitimate.
While Piyarat tore his ballot, the other two played the role of cameramen, recording a video of the incident.
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