Ex-city police chief acquitted for his role in violent breakup of PAD protest in 2008

[snoop1130]

Ex-city police chief acquitted for his role in violent breakup of PAD protest in 2008

 

 

Former metropolitan police commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Suchart Muenkaew who ordered the use of tear gas to break up protesters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in front of the parliament in October 2008 was today (Tuesday) acquitted by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Posts.

 

Pol Lt-Gen Suchart and three other co-defendants, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, former deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and former national police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan were charged by the National Anti-Corruption Commission for their role in the violent dispersal of the PAD protesters led by Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang and Sonthi Limthongkul on October 6-7, resulting to the death and injuries of several protesters.

 

However, the court of first instance acquitted all the four defendants, but  the NACC appealed the verdict against Pol Lt-Gen Suchart to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Posts.

 

Full Story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ex-city-police-chief-acquitted-for-his-role-in-violent-breakup-of-pad-protest-in-2008/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-8-28

[BigBadGeordie]

Shocked, I tell you, totally shocked!

[bangrak]

The small 'technical' point the Court seemed not to be interested in was whether Pol Lt Gen Suchart, a known Thaksin pawn, was, or was not, aware the tear gas grenades to be used by his special units during this intervention were known to be DANGEROUS and possibly lethal, obsolete chinese junk, part of an old lot bought in one of those crooked deals Thailand is famous for, while safe gas canisters where available and had been used in other occasions... But, hey, what is this Farang telling?  

[klauskunkel]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pol Lt-Gen Suchart and three other co-defendants

One of the "co-defendants" is former national police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan, who is Prawit's brother. And that's why all of them were acquitted. 

[colinneil]

Why are people shocked at the outcome?

It was a foregone conclusion that he would be acquitted, anything else and Ole Fatty would have got his underlings to apply a bit of attitude adjustment.

[Cadbury]

16 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Why are people shocked at the outcome?

It was a foregone conclusion that he would be acquitted, anything else and Ole Fatty would have got his underlings to apply a bit of attitude adjustment.

They managed to drag it for 10 years to give the impression it was a difficult case to decide; which it wasn't.

[candide]

23 hours ago, bangrak said:

The small 'technical' point the Court seemed not to be interested in was whether Pol Lt Gen Suchart, a known Thaksin pawn, was, or was not, aware the tear gas grenades to be used by his special units during this intervention were known to be DANGEROUS and possibly lethal, obsolete chinese junk, part of an old lot bought in one of those crooked deals Thailand is famous for, while safe gas canisters where available and had been used in other occasions... But, hey, what is this Farang telling?  

The same question could have been asked to Suchart's direct supervisor, a General and at that time national police chief, who incidentally happens to be Prawit's brother. ?

 

13 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan