Thai appeals court acquits owner of pub where 67 died in fire
The Appeals Court on Tuesday overturned the conviction of the owner of a Bangkok pub that burned down on New Year's Eve of 2008, killing 67 people.
The Appeals Court said there was insufficient evidence that Visuk Sretsawat was directly responsible for the fire at the Santika Pubthat also left 71 people suffering from burns.
Visuk had been sentenced to three years in jail by a lower court in 2011, but appealed and was freed on bail while awaiting the appeal ruling.
The Appeals Court upheld a three-year sentence for Boonchu Lawsrinat, an executive of the company that handled the special-effects at the Santika Pub on the night of the fire.
Mali Thanombanyarat, the mother of one of the victims, said she would pursue the case against Visuk at the Supreme Court.//DPA
