KTB verdict is a new dawn for Thai justice

As I read Pornpimol Kanchanalak’s humane comments on the Krung Thai Bank case, I felt my mouth go dry: I walk past the property of one of the defendants every day and always wonder how he is coping. 

The judgement shook us to the core with its heavy punishments inflicted on all 19 defendants. The first defendant absconded and is sitting pretty, outside Thai jurisdiction. There has been no cry from him about a lack of independence or politically driven verdicts in the Thai justice system. In fact he did nothing at all to help the defendants. 

I feel deep pity for the convicted officials, who made no financial gain from the loan in question but whose good sense was temporarily blinded by unflinching loyalty to the big boss. To do what they did, they must also have believed in the invincibility of the boss.

However, this tragedy of Greek proportions has set a new standard and will change the common belief that justice in Thailand is lenient and can be manipulated. Some of those now being probed by the Department of Special Investigation and public prosecutors are unlikely to take comfort from this case, especially after witnessing the former KTB chiefs walking in a daze towards the prison van. 

While the KTB defendants are deserving of pity, we can also be elated at the signs of a new dawn of open justice.

Songdej Praditsmanont