Achara Ashayagachat, Bangkok Post, May 28, 2012
The Criminal Court on Monday formally convicted
and sentenced Red Siam core member Surachai "Sae Dan" Danwattananusorn
on a further charge of lese majeste, adding two-and-a-half years to his
current prison term.
Surachai
had changed his not guilty plea and confessed that he offended the
monarchy in a speech on Dec 15, 2008, shortly after midnight, at Sanam
Luang.
He was sentenced to five years with the term reduced by half because he confessed.
It is his
fifth lese majeste conviction. He pleaded guilty in the previous four
cases, but earlier denied the fifth. The sentences are cumulative and he
faces total imprisonment of 12.6 years.
His lawyer Karom Polpornklang said his client is in poor health.
He had
already submitted documents for the final stage of the request for a
royal pardon on the other four convictions. He would add the details of
the fifth conviction to the case for royal clemency.
Surachai
had a heart x-ray at the Police General Hospital a week after he was
admitted to the Prison Hospital for treatment for prostate cancer.
The
result of the heart x-ray, which would be known on June 15, was
necessary before the prostate operation could go ahead because he'd had
heart surgery before.
Surachai
said red-shirt prisoners, including those charged under Article 112 of
the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law, would be assisted by Deputy
Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit in seeking the royal pardon.
But
whether he proceeded along the normal track, applying himself for a
royal pardon, or the government-assisted track for clemency, he would
still need prostate surgery.
"I would
rather get the operation outside the prison facility, but they don't
give that permission," Surachai said in a small written note handed to
relatives at the court room on Monday morning.
"Even for surgery in the prison hospital we have to pay nearly 10,000 baht for use of the equipment.
"I don't
know whether they would let me recover outside the prison or not. If
possible, I would prefer to be moved to the temporary prison at Lak Si,
where I could recover better."
He also told the Bangkok Post that the reconciliation bill proposed by former coup maker Sonthi Boonyaratglin would ensnare the government in a deep hole.
"The bill
in itself will divide the people, not to mention that if the bill does
not include the Article 112 victims, some of the red-shirt members will
eventually walk different paths from the Pheu Thai Party.
"The government is working under an illusion at the moment," Surachai said.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment