Court sends taxi driver to 25 years in jail and Bt50 fine

Thu, June 7, 2007 : Last updated 19:11 pm (Thai local time)

The Criminal Court sentenced on Thursday a taxi driver who seriously injured an IBM employee during a holdup in October to 25 years in jail and a Bt50 fine.

The 41-year-old cabbie Worapol Sirichai - charged with attempted murder and armed robbery - was at first handed a life sentence plus a Bt100 in fine. But during his confession, he claimed he needed Bt20,000 to repay a footballing debt or he would be assaulted by debt collectors.

This prompted the court to half his sentence to 25 years and a Bt50 fine.

On October 5 last year, Worapol picked up Panneerat Chinbuathong, a 24-year-old IBM worker to take her to Pathum Thani. While they were at an Asoke-Din Daeng traffic light intersection, Worapol threatened Panneerat at knife point and demanded her handbag. She refused, so he stabbed her twice in the chest.

Panneerat managed to get out of the car and call for help.

Worapol fled the scene and was later arrested on October 9 at a relative's home in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The Nation

any takers on explaining this one ????

Court sends taxi driver to 25 years in jail and Bt50 fine

Thu, June 7, 2007 : Last updated 19:11 pm (Thai local time)

The Criminal Court sentenced on Thursday a taxi driver who seriously injured an IBM employee during a holdup in October to 25 years in jail and a Bt50 fine.

The 41-year-old cabbie Worapol Sirichai - charged with attempted murder and armed robbery - was at first handed a life sentence plus a Bt100 in fine. But during his confession, he claimed he needed Bt20,000 to repay a footballing debt or he would be assaulted by debt collectors.

This prompted the court to half his sentence to 25 years and a Bt50 fine.

On October 5 last year, Worapol picked up Panneerat Chinbuathong, a 24-year-old IBM worker to take her to Pathum Thani. While they were at an Asoke-Din Daeng traffic light intersection, Worapol threatened Panneerat at knife point and demanded her handbag. She refused, so he stabbed her twice in the chest.

Panneerat managed to get out of the car and call for help.

Worapol fled the scene and was later arrested on October 9 at a relative's home in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The Nation

any takers on explaining this one ????

A cab driver stabs his passenger in a robbery attempt, I'd say 25 years is OK. The 50 bt fine is a token thing I guess.

The 50 bt fine is a token thing I guess.

obviously what caught my eye , and the nations too I'd guess .

Fifty baht is one heck of a deterant.

Soundman.

Maybe a stupid question, but how is the halving of his judicial sentence and the extra 50 bt in his pocket going to help him when the debt collectors call? They halved it because of his debt, but how exactly does that help?

Maybe a stupid question, but how is the halving of his judicial sentence and the extra 50 bt in his pocket going to help him when the debt collectors call? They halved it because of his debt, but how exactly does that help?

Really bad wording, or perhaps word order, in the article. They halved it due to his confession, which is the norm and nothing related to his debt.

I have it from a reliable source (ex IBM employee) that the poor girl is now so traumatised she can't get in a taxi any more. That's pretty tough in a city like Bangkok. Her father now escorts her to and from work each day. Hope she can get back to normal eventually.

Maybe a stupid question, but how is the halving of his judicial sentence and the extra 50 bt in his pocket going to help him when the debt collectors call? They halved it because of his debt, but how exactly does that help?

Really bad wording, or perhaps word order, in the article. They halved it due to his confession, which is the norm and nothing related to his debt.

Aaah, OK, thanks. That makes more sense. It's not right, it's not fair to the poor victim, but it makes more sense.

I have it from a reliable source (ex IBM employee) that the poor girl is now so traumatised she can't get in a taxi any more. That's pretty tough in a city like Bangkok. Her father now escorts her to and from work each day. Hope she can get back to normal eventually.

Getting stabbed a couple of times might tend to have that effect.

Soundman.

I would think it had something to do with him being physically threatened for the money which lead to him doing something he would not normally do in order to protect himself. There is some specific legal term for it but I cant remember what it is and it normally results in a shorter sentence.