Appeals Court jails ex-deputy minister for two years
Plodprasop Suraswadi, the former deputy prime minister during the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, has been jailed for two years without suspension in verdict released on Tuesday by the Appeals Court in Bangkok.
The 73-year-old Plodprasop – who was permanent secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment at that time of offence – was accused by former Department of Marine and Coastal Resources deputy director-general Vitoon Jalayananavin of wrongfully exercised his functions to the injury of other persons. The offence was punishable with one to 10 years imprisonment or a Bt2,000 to Bt20,000 fine or both.
Vitoon – who is to receive Bt1.4 million compensation from Plodprasop as part of the court verdict – had accused Plodprasop of dishonestly using his discretion from October 1, 2003, to November 12, 2011, to suspend the duty assignment to promote Vitoon to a Forestry Office director’s position.
The previous court verdict gave Plodprasop a two year suspended jail term plus a Bt20,000 fine.
A source at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases said Plodprasop is in the process of applying for bail release and plans to appeal the case at the Supreme Court.
Plodprasop was later in the afternoon granted a Bt400,000-collateral bail release with a condition that he must not leave the country without court permission.