Ministry hopes for shorter jail terms
The Foreign Ministry is planning to negotiate a reduced jail term and an eventual pardon for the Thai pair facing long prison sentences over drug charges in Myanmar, ministry deputy spokesman Sek Wannamethee said yesterday.
Chumphon native Thanom Jansamut, 52, faces an 18-year jail term, while his accomplice, Surat Thani resident Kalaya Thawo, 49, faces 15 years. The two are among the 92 Thai citizens arrested in July for illegal entry, encroaching on Myanmar territory and clearing land on the other side of the border.
While the three-and-a-half-year sentence handed 83 of the detainees was lifted, the remaining nine are still in prison and seven of them face an addition seven years for possession of military weapons.
Sek said that if negotiations fall through, Thanom would end up serving 28 and a half years in prison because he faces both charges of illegal entry and possession of weapons, while Kalaya would serve 18 and a half years if the term for illegal entry is included.
He said Thai officials were seeking permission to visit the detainees at Koh Song prison again.
