Court finds former top cop guilty of embezzling gems

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a lower court verdict. 

In June 2006, Pol Colonel Prasert Janthraphiphat was found guilty by the Criminal Court, and the Court of Appeals upheld the verdict in February 2012 and sentenced him to 10 years for stealing a number of valuables.

The verdict in 2012 also ruled that three other suspects – all police who worked on the Saudi gems-theft case acquitted by the Criminal Court – were guilty but commuted their long jail terms to shorter ones after they returned a large amount of money they stole. None but Prasert, a former commander of the mounted police subdivision, made an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Thatphol Kerdthes, formerly crime-buster Pol Lt-General Chalor Kerdthes, was given a 20-year term for associated roles. He was the first defendant in the embezzlement trial involving Prasert. He was freed in October last year after serving 19 years, having qualified for release because of old age and chronic illnesses. 

Thatphol, 72, has had his police rank and royal decorations taken from him.