Yellow shirt leaders spared
THE COURT of First Instance yesterday dismissed the sedition charge against six leaders of the now defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy, while suspending determination of penalties for two years for three other yellow-shirt leaders in a case arising out of their protests targeting several government compounds in 2008.
The court cited the facts that the six accused of sedition had already been convicted for invasion of Government House – the seat of the country’s administration – and been punished with a two-year jail term, as its reason for dismissing the sedition case.
The six who were accused of sedition were: former general Chamlong Srimuang, Somsak Kosaisuk, Pipob Thongchai, Suriyasai Katasila, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, and media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul who is serving a jail term in a separate case involving violation of the stock market law.
The court warned the other three leaders – Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornrattananont, Terdpoom Jaidee – in whose cases the determination of penalties was suspended for two years, that their sentence would be reviewed if they repeated their behaviour.
The defendants had denied the charge and were granted bail, except Sondhi.
Known as yellow shirts, they had staged protests against the government of the time, accusing of them being proxies of Thaksin Shinawatra. They marched to several government compounds, including the Interior Ministry, the Election Commission, the Royal Thai Police, and others to put pressure on the government.
They can appeal the verdict within 30 days.