Bangkok: The court ruled to dismiss the charges against 'Tuhao, the ex-wife of a policewoman' and 19 others on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and being a member of a transnational crime syndicate. The court ruled that the plaintiff's evidence was not sufficiently substantial. The other six people were found guilty of drug, firearm, setting up an entertainment venue without permission, and offences relating to migrant workers. They were sentenced to prison terms and fined on multiple charges.
According to Thai News Agency, the Bangkok South Criminal Court read the verdict in three cases filed by the public prosecutor against Mr. Huang Hai Tao as the first defendant, Mr. Chainat Kornchayanan or Tuhao as the second defendant, along with Chinese, Thai, Cambodian nationals, and five juristic persons, totaling 25 defendants. The charges related to offenses under the Narcotics Code, the Prevention and Suppression of Involvement in Transnational Organized Crime Act B.E. 2556, the Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542, the Immigration Act B.E. 2522, the Emergency Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers' Employment B.E. 2560, the Entertainment Establishments Act B.E. 2509, and the Firearms and Ammunition Act B.E. 2490, along with certain sections from the Criminal Code.
The court proceedings began with an explanation of the indictment to the 25 defendants. The indictment detailed the circumstances surrounding a police search at Jinling Pub in 2022, where over 100 foreigners were found illegally in the country, along with drugs, firearms, and other evidence. The investigation alleged financial connections of Jinling Pub, owned by Mr. Tuhao, with an entertainment venue in Cambodia, suspected of being a drug money transfer transaction. While the first, fourth, and fifth defendants confessed, the remaining defendants denied the charges.
The court determined that the plaintiff lacked sufficient evidence to prove that the defendants had operated as part of a transnational criminal organization. Consequently, all defendants were acquitted of those charges. Additionally, the evidence for the money laundering charge was deemed insufficient, as financial transactions could not clearly differentiate whether funds were derived from drug sales or legitimate business operations. Thus, the defendants were found not guilty of money laundering.
However, the court found the 1/4 defendants guilty of jointly distributing narcotics and possessing firearms under relevant acts. Their sentences were reduced by half upon confession, resulting in 27 years and 6 months in prison, and a fine of 1,690,000 baht.
The five defendants were found guilty of eight counts, including setting up an entertainment venue without permission and offenses related to migrant workers. Their sentences, similarly reduced by confession, amounted to 28 years and 12 months in prison, and a fine of 2,600,000 baht.