<p>&nbsp;<picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/md-webp" media="(max-width: 690px)" type="image/webp" />
            <img src="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/lg-webp" alt="Suthep, education minister among PDRC leaders jailed over protests" class="img-fluid w-100 showcaption-false" loading="lazy" />
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">The Criminal Court sentenced Suthep to five years in jail for leading PDRC rallies that paralysed Bangkok and led to turbulence in 2013 and 2014.</span></div>

<p>&nbsp;<picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/md-webp" media="(max-width: 690px)" type="image/webp" />
            <img src="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/lg-webp" alt="Suthep, education minister among PDRC leaders jailed over protests" class="img-fluid w-100 showcaption-false" loading="lazy" />
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">Prison sentences were also handed to Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan (6 years and 16 months) and Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senniam (4 years).</span></div>

<p>&nbsp;<picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/md-webp" media="(max-width: 690px)" type="image/webp" />
            <img src="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/lg-webp" alt="Suthep, education minister among PDRC leaders jailed over protests" class="img-fluid w-100 showcaption-false" loading="lazy" />
        </picture></p>

<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">The Constitution bars anyone who has been sentenced to jail from taking political office, meaning a Cabinet reshuffle may now be necessary.</span></div>

<p>&nbsp;<picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/md-webp" media="(max-width: 690px)" type="image/webp" />
            <img src="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/lg-webp" alt="Suthep, education minister among PDRC leaders jailed over protests" class="img-fluid w-100 showcaption-false" loading="lazy" />
        </picture></p>

<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">Meanwhile Buddhipongse Punnakanta, former digital economy and society minister, was sentenced to seven years in jail.</span></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">He was among a total of 29 former PDRC members who were handed jail terms ranging from four months to 11 years after being found guilty of terrorism, insurrection or other charges. </span></div>

<p>&nbsp;<picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/md-webp" media="(max-width: 690px)" type="image/webp" />
            <img src="https://media.nationthailand.com/uploads/images/2021/02/24/People?x-image-process=style/lg-webp" alt="Suthep, education minister among PDRC leaders jailed over protests" class="img-fluid w-100 showcaption-false" loading="lazy" />
        </picture></p>

<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">Chaos caused by the PDRC protests culminated in a coup led by then-Army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha on May 22, 2014. </span></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Suthep, education minister among PDRC leaders jailed over protests

Suthep Thaugsuban and government ministers were among former People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leaders sentenced to jail on Wednesday for their roles in protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government.