PAD officers ordered to pay compensation to airports

By The Nation

 

Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang

 

The Attorney General Office’s Legal Execution bureau has notified key figures of the now-defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) accused of illegally occupying Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports during the 2008 protest to pay compensation worth Bt522 million to the damaged party, Airports of Thailand.

 

Suwat Aphaipak, the PAD’s lawyer, said the bureau sent the notice on December 25, enforcing legal execution on 13 leaders following the court’s ruling.

 

Those included Sondhi Limthongkul, Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang, Pipob Thongchai, Suriyasai Katasila, Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, as well as the group’s second generation leaders.

 

Suwat said the accused do not have enough assets to cover the compensation in the demand, so it’s up to the plaintiff to follow up the execution. The defendants could go bankrupt if they cannot repay the compensation.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30335585

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-07

8 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The defendants could go bankrupt if they cannot repay the compensation.

Yeah, right! What about the business that got affected? They already had close to 10 years to feel the effect and go bankrupt. Isn´t it so sad it has to take that long time to reach a result regarding something?

These people are the poster children of everything that is wrong in Thailand.

 

They occupied an international airport causing huge damage to it, damaged Thailand's reputation and inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of travellers. What price have they paid? Almost nothing.

 

True, they have been found guilty and ordered to pay damages to AoT, but this was not a criminal trial, it was a civil trial. Further, now the onus is on AoT to collect the money owed, not the state of Thailand, so it'll likely be several more years of litigation to seize their assets (if that is even possible). It is speculation on my part, but I'd guess that they have long since transferred the bulk of their assets to their spouses and/or children, so nothing much will come of the legal action, except perhaps a few token items. They will live out their remaining days being "kept" by their "rich wives" in luxury.

 

In normal circumstances, a criminal trial is held before a civil trial; you can be damn sure if it had been a 'Red' political faction, it would have been criminal first and someone would have been convicted and gone to jail for their crimes. But, these people are connected.

 

I read somewhere that a criminal trial is scheduled to begin soon, but due to the Thai justice system, it'll likely be 10-15 years before there is any kind of final verdict. Given their age, few or more likely, no one will ever see the inside of a jail.

 

A connected 'Yellow' has the system work for them and lets them avoid the consequences of their actions. A 'Red' does not. 

 

Thailand desperately needs a justice system that treats everyone equally. Until that happens, it cannot really be called a 'justice' system.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Suwat Aphaipak, the PAD’s lawyer, said the bureau sent the notice on December 25,

Merry Christmas, y’all

No jail time. Pathetic. 

can I get paid back for being stuck in BKK 5 days and finally going by train/bus to KL  to get a flight back to the USA ?

 

This shutdown was so organized someone with big $$$$ was paying for all the food ,  water etc of these 1000s of people....

 

Wonder who ????

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

These people are the poster children of everything that is wrong in Thailand.

 

They occupied an international airport causing huge damage to it, damaged Thailand's reputation and inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of travellers. What price have they paid? Almost nothing.

 

True, they have been found guilty and ordered to pay damages to AoT, but this was not a criminal trial, it was a civil trial. Further, now the onus is on AoT to collect the money owed, not the state of Thailand, so it'll likely be several more years of litigation to seize their assets (if that is even possible). It is speculation on my part, but I'd guess that they have long since transferred the bulk of their assets to their spouses and/or children, so nothing much will come of the legal action, except perhaps a few token items. They will live out their remaining days being "kept" by their "rich wives" in luxury.

 

In normal circumstances, a criminal trial is held before a civil trial; you can be damn sure if it had been a 'Red' political faction, it would have been criminal first and someone would have been convicted and gone to jail for their crimes. But, these people are connected.

 

I read somewhere that a criminal trial is scheduled to begin soon, but due to the Thai justice system, it'll likely be 10-15 years before there is any kind of final verdict. Given their age, few or more likely, no one will ever see the inside of a jail.

 

A connected 'Yellow' has the system work for them and lets them avoid the consequences of their actions. A 'Red' does not. 

 

Thailand desperately needs a justice system that treats everyone equally. Until that happens, it cannot really be called a 'justice' system.

Firstly your right this is not a criminal trial, but it still gives the defendants the right to go after their assets. Do you really think the likes of boonsong and YL and others did not do the same as these criminals. All criminals red and yellow will try to hide their assets its normal (wrong but normal). This here shows that justice can be done people are being held responsible. It shows that Thailand is moving forward. Now the next thing is to get the red terrorists that held BKK hostage and burned part of it, go for their assets too. This how it should be people paying for what they did wrong.

 

I feel its real good the PAD is being forced to pay (even better if criminal trial). But in general (or at least in my country) you have to do a civil trial to get the damages and (in general not always though) its not connected to the criminal trial. It makes it easier if it is proof wise. But that is not the case here.

 

Thailand desperately needs to punish all those guys red and yellow, though i feel bombings and killings and arson should be punished harsher then mere financial crimes like this. But i guess you wont agree here as that is what the reds did. 

 

But at least this is a step in the right direction, making people accountable. 

Can we pay it off,500 THB month,is that OK ?

regards worgeordie

Who cares about the AOT. Their losses would have been covered by insurance or made

up when the planes/tourists finally were able to arrive/leave. The real loss was suffered

by the tourists/travellers who missed flights and incurred additional costs. They will not

be getting any compensation. 

A flame post and reply have been removed.

 

This is as it should be albeit far too long after the event, now we need to see them do the same to the reds and their holding of Bangkok to ransom for all the damage etc they caused,for too long these groups get away with their crap, red or yellow doesnt matter, they are both as bad as each other. Both are controlled/run by wealthy people, they need to be taken to account as well, if they seized the wealth of all those that run or partook in these actions it might just make these idiots think twice before ever doing anything like it again. No one should get away with threatening others and holding them to ransom for political/personal gain as both these groups do continually

How times have changed on this forum.Only a few years ago we were being lectured by arrogant PAD supporters that the airport mob had done nothing wrong except protest peacefully.The villain of the piece according to their argument was AOT which had taken on itself to close down the airport.Any dissent from the rest of us resulted in abuse and ranting.From those fanatics just silence now.

 

But there are lessons to be learned.Firstly there were decent people among the airport mob who genuinely were concerned at Thaksin's corruption and authoritarian tendencies.But they allowed themselves to be exploited and never really got the bigger picture.Secondly the elites don't really like protest unless it can be carefully controlled and channeled to repress democracy.The current development is really just a warning - though I don't expect fines to be paid or sentences to be served.The useful idiots will have however been reminded to do what they are told and not go off agenda.

11 minutes ago, jayboy said:

How times have changed on this forum.Only a few years ago we were being lectured by arrogant PAD supporters that the airport mob had done nothing wrong except protest peacefully.The villain of the piece according to their argument was AOT which had taken on itself to close down the airport.Any dissent from the rest of us resulted in abuse and ranting.From those fanatics just silence now.

 

But there are lessons to be learned.Firstly there were decent people among the airport mob who genuinely were concerned at Thaksin's corruption and authoritarian tendencies.But they allowed themselves to be exploited and never really got the bigger picture.Secondly the elites don't really like protest unless it can be carefully controlled and channeled to repress democracy.The current development is really just a warning - though I don't expect fines to be paid or sentences to be served.The useful idiots will have however been reminded to do what they are told and not go off agenda.

 

"...or sentences to be served..."

 

There are no sentences to be served. Their criminal trial for their actions has not begun.

 

I don't get this forum; there seems to be a desire to ignore reality (My apologies Jayboy- you don't deserve this, you just happen to be here).

 

They occupied two international airports, caused huge damage to the structures and greatly inconvenienced hundred's of thousands of travelers.However,

 

There are no sentences to be served. Their criminal trial for their actions has not begun.

 

My apologies again Jayboy. Your post just happen to be here when I needed it to make a point. Will buy you a beer if we ever meet!

11 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

These people are the poster children of everything that is wrong in Thailand.

 

They occupied an international airport causing huge damage to it, damaged Thailand's reputation and inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of travellers. What price have they paid? Almost nothing.

 

True, they have been found guilty and ordered to pay damages to AoT, but this was not a criminal trial, it was a civil trial. Further, now the onus is on AoT to collect the money owed, not the state of Thailand, so it'll likely be several more years of litigation to seize their assets (if that is even possible). It is speculation on my part, but I'd guess that they have long since transferred the bulk of their assets to their spouses and/or children, so nothing much will come of the legal action, except perhaps a few token items. They will live out their remaining days being "kept" by their "rich wives" in luxury.

 

In normal circumstances, a criminal trial is held before a civil trial; you can be damn sure if it had been a 'Red' political faction, it would have been criminal first and someone would have been convicted and gone to jail for their crimes. But, these people are connected.

 

I read somewhere that a criminal trial is scheduled to begin soon, but due to the Thai justice system, it'll likely be 10-15 years before there is any kind of final verdict. Given their age, few or more likely, no one will ever see the inside of a jail.

 

A connected 'Yellow' has the system work for them and lets them avoid the consequences of their actions. A 'Red' does not. 

 

Thailand desperately needs a justice system that treats everyone equally. Until that happens, it cannot really be called a 'justice' system.

 

No Shiniwattra has served jail time so far. A few minions thrown under the bus as is their leaders habit when the chips are down but no immediate or extended family members and no high level allies 

 

Same with the Yellows. The real seniors no way. Some minions, wannabees and any who wouldn't tow the line.

 

Those in the top echelon, red, yellow, orange or chameleon are all untouchable.

 

Thailand does indeed need a efficient, effective, fair to all, impartial and honest justice system. Sadly,  even the light at the end of the tunnel is no where to be seen on this one!

47 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

"...or sentences to be served..."

 

There are no sentences to be served. Their criminal trial for their actions has not begun.

 

I don't get this forum; there seems to be a desire to ignore reality (My apologies Jayboy- you don't deserve this, you just happen to be here).

 

They occupied two international airports, caused huge damage to the structures and greatly inconvenienced hundred's of thousands of travelers.However,

 

There are no sentences to be served. Their criminal trial for their actions has not begun.

 

My apologies again Jayboy. Your post just happen to be here when I needed it to make a point. Will buy you a beer if we ever meet!

No need to apologise since I agree your sentiment.There will be no punishment for the offenders: my point was that the current proceedings are just a warning - killing the chicken to frighten the monkeys.

 

But taking up Baerboxer's point are the red shirt hierachy untouchable? It seems to me they have suffered a lot.In the meantime (as I note on Facebook) a minority of the foolish Bangkok middle class are singing the praises of the gangster/thug Suthep who has paid nothing for his crimes.

Edited January 7, 20188 yr by jayboy

So the protesters damaged the reputation of Thailand ? So be it...

 

Naturally, the taxi drivers who daily cheat farangs (tourists/expats), the cops who racket farangs at checkpoints for money or who make random inefficient pee tests with the temptation of falacious accusations, the tour and recreational operators who scam tourists, the behaviour of certain immigration officers who hassle quality expats on minor visa issues with hints for bribes etc. etc. etc. ....all these lovely people absolutely do not damage the reputation of Thailand abroad...no of course not !!!!

Always assuming the AoT actually receives the money, are they then going to recompense the seriously-inconvenienced travellers? 

 

Stupid question, really.

12 hours ago, oldcarguy said:

can I get paid back for being stuck in BKK 5 days and finally going by train/bus to KL  to get a flight back to the USA ?

 

This shutdown was so organized someone with big $$$$ was paying for all the food ,  water etc of these 1000s of people....

 

Wonder who ????

It was the actions of you know "who" that caused the protests...

 

He was not the organiser of or provided funds to these protesters, in all those protests were disruptive but I do not recall any violence if people think the organisers should do prison time the what punishment for the organisers of the other faction that included violence and murder???