Jailed Khon Kaen reds lose appeal

Jailed Khon Kaen reds lose appeal
Bangkok Post, March 15, 2012

The Appeals Court on Thursday upheld the lower court's jailing of eight red-shirt supporters and ordered them to pay compensation of 36 million baht for damage to a Bangkok Bank branch in Khon Kaen which they set on fire on May 19, 2010.

The eight red-shirts are Chaiyong Thurapee, Veerapat Chaichanda, Suthas Singbuakhao, Adisai Wiboonseth, Suchart Rakchanda, Banchong Kamhongsa, Parichart Poonokyung and Udom Kammoon.

The lower court found them guilty of setting fire to the Pracha Samosorn Branch of the Bangkok Bank in Khon Kaen municipality, causing a lot of damage, after the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship declared an end to its protest at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok.

The court sentenced them each to jail, and then halved the terms because they confessed.
The commuted jail terms were one year and six months for Chaiyong; one year each for Suthas, Adisai and Parichart; and six months each for Veerapat, Suchart, Banchong and Udom.

The court also ordered Chaiyong to pay 8.3 million baht, Veerapan 1.8 million baht; Suthas, Adisai and Parichart 5.3 million baht each; and Suchart, Banchong and Udom 3.5 million baht each in compensation for the damage to the bank.