Erawan Shrine Bombing Verdict Due in Bangkok

Justice moves slowly in Thailand.

So does injustice.

Eleven years to get a verdict.. what an amazing Thailand 🙂‍↕️👍

12 minutes ago, chuang said:

Eleven years to get a verdict.. what an amazing Thailand 🙂‍↕️👍

If there had been no military coup with the leader making himself PM through 2023, perhaps period for proper civil prosecution could have been at least halved.

35 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

If there had been no military coup with the leader making himself PM through 2023, perhaps period for proper civil prosecution could have been at least halved.

I don’t remember all the details of this case but I do recall that the inability to procure competent translators delayed the start of the trial for an incredibly long time.

I also recall that this case highlighted all the non-functioning CCTV cameras in the area.

Perhaps they have finally found a translator so they can communicate with the accused ?

What were their motives for such an act?

9 minutes ago, brfsa2 said:

What were their motives for such an act?

IIRC It was the deportation of Chinese Uyghur asylum seekers back to China, carried out by the military government.

UPDATE

Thai Court Sentences 2 Men to Death in Erawan Shrine Bombing

Picture courtesy of ThaiPBS

The South Bangkok Criminal Court on 11 June 2026, sentenced two defendants to death in connection with the 2015 Erawan Shrine bombing at the Ratchaprasong intersection in central Bangkok, which killed 20 people and injured 160 others. The court found Adem Karadag and Mai Ralieu Yusufu guilty of jointly committing premeditated murder, ruling that no mitigating circumstances were present to reduce their sentences.

The judgment was delivered at around 12:50 after the court concluded its review of evidence presented by the prosecution and defence. Prosecutors had charged the two men with offences linked to terrorism and their alleged involvement in planning and carrying out the explosion at the Thao Maha Phrom (Erawan) Shrine, a major religious site and tourist landmark in Bangkok.

The 2015 blast at the Ratchaprasong commercial district remains one of the deadliest attacks in Thailand in recent history. The explosion caused widespread casualties and significant disruption in a densely populated area known for shopping centres, hotels and heavy pedestrian traffic. The case has remained a high-profile prosecution due to its scale and impact on both Thai citizens and foreign visitors.

During proceedings following the verdict, Mai Ralieu Yusufu openly rejected the court’s decision, shouting inside the courtroom that he disagreed with the ruling and insisting that he was not responsible for the offence. He also called for what he described as a lack of justice in the outcome. Court officials maintained order as the judgment was announced. There were no additional reported outbursts from Adem Karadag in the courtroom description provided.

ThaiPBS reported that following the ruling, the case now moves into the post-judgment phase of the Thai criminal justice process. Under Thai law, the defendants retain the right to appeal the decision to higher courts, where both legal interpretation and evidentiary findings may be reviewed. If appeals are filed, the case could proceed through multiple judicial levels, potentially extending the timeline for a final, enforceable verdict. Until all appeal options are exhausted, the legal status of the sentences remains subject to review within the appellate system.

Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaipbs 11 June 2026

IIRC It was the deportation of Chinese Uyghur asylum seekers back to China, carried out by the military government.

I think that's the accepted narrative. But as I recall, there was a lot of unrest in Bangkok related to the coup, so they weren't the only possibility. And it happened soon after the Burmese guys were banged up (rightly or wrongly?) for the Koh Tao murders.

I hope they got it right. But I have little confidence. It would be interesting to see what the hundreds of witnesses said.

The night it happened we were very close , in a taxi with my son and his aunt, we heard an explosion, next thing traffic went to a standstill. The police, bomb squad were on the scene quick and cordoned off the area.. the next day i was sitting in the Game sports bar at Nana station having breakfast when all traffic stopped. The police, army shut off the road after a bag was left in the station.. bomb squad appeared and guy in padded suit brought the suspicious bag down and opened it , with loads of Thai's over his shoulder watching 🤔🤔

20 minutes ago, RickyJB said:

bomb squad appeared and guy in padded suit brought the suspicious bag down and opened it , with loads of Thai's over his shoulder watching 🤔🤔

"...loads of Thai's over his shoulder watching..."

.... and you, of course.

What a nice fat payday for 11 years of "work". Totally ridiculous.

The two men have been sentenced to death. I wonder how long it will take for the sentence to be carried out? As I understand it, an immediate appeal will be lodged. This could still drag on for years and quite possibly the sentence will be reduced.

The Thai judicial system NEVER moves forward until all financial opportunities have been exploited.

Need I list em?

In the oil & gas industry we have a saying-"leaks mean weeks" and "chaos equals cash" for when things go wrong and jobs get delayed.

I wonder what term the defence lawyers label appeals and delays with ?

Lawyers are the only ones that benefit from long drawn out trails, i sometimes think they are as crooked as the people they are defending.

This is a worldwide problem, not just Thailand.

This verdict could easily have been reached with due process in a year or two... 11 years is excessive, and it's still not over yet with appeals pending etc. but the verdict probably wasn't in much doubt anyway.

9 hours ago, chuang said:

Eleven years to get a verdict.. what an amazing Thailand 🙂‍↕️👍

Accused released on the basis of time already served. Although I doubt it for just 11 years.

1 hour ago, WHansen said:

In the oil & gas industry we have a saying-"leaks mean weeks" and "chaos equals cash" for when things go wrong and jobs get delayed.

I wonder what term the defence lawyers label appeals and delays with ?

Lawyers are the only ones that benefit from long drawn out trails, i sometimes think they are as crooked as the people they are defending.

This is a worldwide problem, not just Thailand.

Rather like the Post Office/Fujitsu Horizon scandal going on in the UK. The legal profession makes a killing falsely prosecuting post office workers. When the scandal is exposed there is a years long inquiry, the legal profession makes and even bigger killing supporting the inquiry. Yet to happen as the inquiry is dragging on for years, the legal profession make a killing with claims for false imprisonment when the inquiry is complete. Win, win, win for the legal profession.

7 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

IIRC It was the deportation of Chinese Uyghur asylum seekers back to China, carried out by the military government.

Wasn't there a more recent second group of Uyghurs sent back to China to be tortured and imprisoned. How silly of me, I meant to live peacefully in China. Weren't they sent back under a civilian Government?

I would think after 11 years in Thai prison, their Thai must be almost fluent. And they don't know Mandarin?

25 minutes ago, Geoff914 said:

Wasn't there a more recent second group of Uyghurs sent back to China to be tortured and imprisoned. How silly of me, I meant to live peacefully in China. Weren't they sent back under a civilian Government?

I'm not sure about a second group, but I seem to remember that this group of 100 asylum seekers were sneaked out of the detention centre in the middle of the night by bus. This was under the military government of the time.

The two suspects (should I now say convicts) for the Erawan bombing are Chinese Muslim Uyghurs.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I would think after 11 years in Thai prison, their Thai must be almost fluent. And they don't know Mandarin?

They are Uyghurs, why would they know any Mandarin. They are not Han Chinese. Isn't that the problem. The Han Chinese take over areas that are not China the treat the indigenous people like terrorists.

44 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

The two suspects (should I now say convicts) for the Erawan bombing are Chinese Muslim Uyghurs.

Muslim Uyghurs yes, Chinese? I suppose depends how you define "Chinese". Citizens of the PRC? Not sure that even makes them Chinese the way they are treated. May be ask a Tibetan if they are Chinese.

3 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

They are Uyghurs, why would they know any Mandarin. They are not Han Chinese. Isn't that the problem. The Han Chinese take over areas that are not China the treat the indigenous people like terrorists.

Well, yes. But every culture in China has putonghua forced down their throats from childhood. I bet it's the same for schoolkids in Xinjiang. Nobody could understand TV if they didn't know Chinese.

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Well, yes. But every culture in China has putonghua forced down their throats from childhood. I bet it's the same for schoolkids in Xinjiang. Nobody could understand TV if they didn't know Chinese.

So much for respecting ethnic diversity.

15 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

The two men have been sentenced to death. I wonder how long it will take for the sentence to be carried out? As I understand it, an immediate appeal will be lodged. This could still drag on for years and quite possibly the sentence will be reduced.

That's good in a country with the death penalty and a wonky legal system

Looking at the comments on here.

Reminds me of a bad comedy show.

13 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

win for the legal profession.

And people wonder why I call them ambulance chasers

14 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

Wasn't there a more recent second group of Uyghurs sent back to China to be tortured and imprisoned. How silly of me, I meant to live peacefully in China. Weren't they sent back under a civilian Government?

12 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

Muslim Uyghurs yes, Chinese? I suppose depends how you define "Chinese". Citizens of the PRC? Not sure that even makes them Chinese the way they are treated. May be ask a Tibetan if they are Chinese.

Is it any different to many “Christian “ countries that don’t want Muslim immigrants from troubled areas! China ensures their troubled areas are well controlled, which is what a lot of the western demonstrations are about!

23 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

IIRC It was the deportation of Chinese Uyghur asylum seekers back to China, carried out by the military government.

I am sure you are correct- although I think there were other civil issues of unrest at the time too