Two Army men convicted of assault at Loei mine
A LT COLONEL and a retired lieutenant general were given jail terms by the Criminal Court yesterday for attacking anti-mine protesters in Loei province two years ago.
The defendants are Lt-Colonel Poramin Pomnak and his father, Lt-General Poramet Pomnak.
Poramin was given three years and Poramet two years in jail for their actions, though both are out on bail now.
Nine members of the Khon Rak Ban Kerd Group filed lawsuits against the father and son for allegedly being behind physical assaults that took place in front of Thung Kham Co Ltd’s gold mine in Loei’s Wang Saphung district.
About 200 people affiliated with the group showed up at the Loei Provincial Court yesterday to hear the verdict, and burst out in joy when they learned that the defendants had been convicted.
Another piece of good news for them yesterday was that the Court of Appeals had rejected Thung Kham’s complaint against village head Samai Pakmee and two others for allegedly encouraging locals to block the entrance to the mine. This complaint had also been dismissed by a lower court.
“We have faith in the justice system,” Samai, who also chairs the Tambon Khao Luang Administrative Organisation’s Council, said.
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