3 policemen get life over drug run

The court yesterday found 2nd Lieutenant Jittipong Sochai, 44; Pol Snr Sgt-Major Attapon Khamsaen, 44; and Pol Lt-Colonel Thammanoon Nakbua, 42; guilty of having methamphetamine in their possession with intent to sell, as well as carrying guns in a public place.
They were stationed at a police station in the northern province of Nan at the time of the crime.
The three were intercepted in the Central province of Ayutthaya on December 13, 2012, while driving a police pick-up truck. They were found carrying a million methamphetamine tablets.
But the court decided to commute their death terms to life imprisonment as it found some of their statements useful.
Also prosecuted in the case were Pol Snr Sgt-Major Sakkapong Chiangnoon, 41, and Pol Snr Sgt-Major Nontawat Pansa, 39. The two were found guilty of carrying weapons in a public place and each sentenced to four months in jail.
However, these officers were not charged in relation to drug trafficking, as evidence linking them was not strong enough, the court said.
Two civilians were convicted in the same case for trafficking and were also sentenced to death. They are Benjaporn Tiangkinnaree, 25, and Wicharn Laomee, 23. Evidence showed Benjaporn and Wicharn were waiting to pick up the large cache of methamphetamine pills from the convicted policemen.
An eighth defendant in this case is a civilian who was cleared after being given the benefit of doubt. None of the defendants have been granted bail. They will remain in custody pending possible appeals.