Eight Thais jailed in Myanmar for weapons

The head of the Township Border Committee in Ranong yesterday confirmed the Myanmar court’s sentencing of eight Thais to seven years imprisonment each for carrying war weapons, while the verdict on two Thais facing drug charges would be announced later this month.
As the eight were among 92 Thais sentenced to a three-and-a-half-year jail terms for encroaching on Myanmar forestland and illegal entry, they would each serve over a decade in total.
Colonel Pornsak Pulsawat, also commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment Task Force, said the weapons convicts were Somchai Saothee, 45, Pinit Arun, 49, Seksan Wongkasa, 40, Sa-nguan Kladsaeng, Somporn Kladsaeng, 29, Winai Siriwat, 53, Khamthawee (last name unknown), 52, and Nipon Thippakdee, 60.
Khamthawee was facing a drug charge along with Kalaya Thavo, 49. The court verdict would be announced in late August. Pornsak said Myanmar officials had submitted to the central government details of a request for pardons for the remaining 83 Thais.