FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Appeals court backs jail term for Pheu Thai official for 2010 offence

Appeals court backs jail term for Pheu Thai official for 2010 offence

The Court of Appeals Tuesday upheld a lower court decision to sentence a former Pheu Thai Party district councillor to one year in prison for his roles during political riots in 2010.

Somchai Paiboon, 45, who also is member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, was released on Bt100,000 bail after his lawyer appealed the court’s decision.
The Criminal Court had earlier found Somchai guilty of resisting police orders to call off a rally and provoking a riot that led to deaths and injuries. The incident took place during the UDD campaign against the Abhisit government. The court sentenced him to one year in prison. Somchai appealed and requested light punishment.
The Court of Appeals said Somchai took to the rally stage several times from March 12 to April 13 in 2010. The Department of Special Investigation also pressed charges against the defendant over use of violence at rallies. The media also published reports about clashes among protesters. There was no evidence that the Metropolitan Police or the plaintiff made up evidence to harass or frame the defendant.
The court said the defendant violated Article 116 of the Criminal Court, a crime punishable by up to seven years in jail. The Appeals Court said that the lower court’s one-year sentence delivered to the defendant was regarded as a light penalty. Therefore, it upheld the lower court’s decision. 
 
RELATED
nationthailand