Bangkok: The Supreme Court has reversed its decision, dismissing the charges against three PAD leaders in the NBT raid case, while sentencing Sonthi's younger brother to six months in prison.
According to Thai News Agency, the Supreme Court reversed its decision, dismissing charges against "Jay Pong, Phuwadon, and Yutthiyong" linked to the 2008 NBT raid case. Concurrently, "Chittipat," Mr. Sonthi's younger brother, was sentenced to six months in prison without suspension.
The court's scheduled hearing of the Supreme Court's verdict on the PAD mob's invasion of NBT Channel, in Black Case No. 1033/2561, involved the Public Prosecutor's Office 4 filing a lawsuit against Mr. Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a former leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who has since died; Ms. Anchalee Pairirak, Mr. Phuwanon Songprasert, Mr. Yuthiyong Limlertwadi, all PAD members; and Mr. Chitipat Limthongkul, the younger brother of Mr. Sondhi Limthongkul, a former PAD leader, as defendants 1-5. The charges included gathering in a group of 10 or more people, being a gang leader, and trespassing on government property resulting in property damage. In 2008, the defendants and their previously convicted associates stormed and occupied the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) during the PAD's protests to oust the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
In the initial proceedings, both the court of first instance and the Court of Appeal upheld the sentences of one year in prison without suspension for each defendant. The four defendants appealed, and each was released on bail of 200,000 baht.
Recently, the Supreme Court reversed its decision, dismissing the charges against Ms. Anchalee, Mr. Phuwanon, and Mr. Yuthiyong in the 2008 NBT invasion case. However, Mr. Chitipat Limthongkul, the fourth defendant, received a six-month prison sentence without suspension.