PAD leaders plead not guilty in trials over 2008 protests

The Criminal Court has scheduled April 29 to examine evidence in the two cases.

In the first case, prosecutors contend that four People’s Alliance for Democracy leaders incited members of the group to trespass and encroach on the grounds of Government House to pressure then-prime minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.

The incident took place from August 26 to December 3, 2008. The defendants are Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, Somkiat Pongpaiboon and Pibhop Dhongchai. The indictments relate to Articles 83, 91, 358, 362 and 365 of the Criminal Code. The first two indictments relate to the defendants’ alleged roles in the incident; the remaining charges involve alleged destruction of property, trespassing and encroachment.

If they are found guilty, penalties range from one to three years in jail for each count.

In the second trial, the prosecution brought eight charges against five defendants involved in the blockade of Parliament from October 5-7, 2008. The charges involve Articles 83, 91, 116, 215, 216, 309 and 310 of the Criminal Code,

The five defendants are Sondhi, Somkiat, Pibhop, Maleerat Kaewka and Prapan Kunmee. The key charges relate to illegal assembly, breach of the peace, coercion and illegal detention. Penalties vary from six months to seven years in jail per count.

At press time, the defence team had sought and expected bail for the yellow-shirt leaders pending outcome of the two trials.

In another development, lead prosecutor Prayuth Po Satayarak said an appellate review had on December 11 upheld the conviction of yellow-shirt protester Preecha Treecharoon for attempted murder, but handed him a much harsher sentence of 34 years in prison.

A lower court had found Preecha guilty of using a truck to run over a police officer in charge of crowd control on October 7, 2008, near Parliament. Citing Preecha’s confession and injuries he sustained during the incident – which caused him to lose his sight – as grounds for leniency, the court sentenced him to a suspended prison term. 

The appellate review, however, amended the sentence to 34 years in jail.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court also sentenced red-shirt leader Somchai Paiboon to one year in prison for inciting violence against anti-riot forces during the 2010 political mayhem.

In outlining its decision, the court found Somchai guilty of leading crowds to attack anti-riot forces violently at the Kok Wua Intersection and Democracy Monument on Rajdamnoen Avenue in Bangkok on April 10, 2010.

Somchai’s offences mostly concerned prohibitions against assembly under the emergency law.

After the sentencing session, Somchai sought and received Bt100,000 bail pending an appellate review.