The Appeals Court changed the prison term imposed on a non-commissioned police officer today from just one year and 15 days to ten years and two months for crashing his big bike into an eye doctor while she was using a zebra crossing in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district in January 2022.

 

The sentence was then commuted to five years.

 

Both individuals were injured in the accident, but Dr. Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, who worked at Rajavithi Hospital, died upon arrival at the hospital.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-01-16

 

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What was the point in giving the guy 10 years an 2 months and commuting it by a half?

 

Why not give him 5 years to begin with and leaving it at 5 years.

 

He got less time for killing an eye doctor, than 2 elderly people got for picking mushrooms.

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

What was the point in giving the guy 10 years an 2 months and commuting it by a half?

Automatic if they plead guilty.

If they gave him five years, it would be reduced to 2.5.

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

What was the point in giving the guy 10 years an 2 months and commuting it by a half?

 

Why not give him 5 years to begin with and leaving it at 5 years.

 

He got less time for killing an eye doctor, than 2 elderly people got for picking mushrooms.

 

that's the system here, if he got 5 he'd serve 2.5

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

He got less time for killing an eye doctor, than 2 elderly people got for picking mushrooms.

Nonsense.  He got ten years, commuted to five.  The "mushroom pickers" who were illegally in possession of teak logs (and confessed) weren't elderly and had their sentence reduced to five years by the Supreme Court.  They were released after two years.

27 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Automatic if they plead guilty.

If they gave him five years, it would be reduced to 2.5.

I understand that.

 

What I find hard to understand is why they didn't give him 10 years and 4 months to be commuted to 5 years and 2 months in the first place.

So he was appealing the prison sentence of  1 year and 15 days , and was then given 5 years,

best news of the day , 1 year 15 days was a farce , a person's life is worth much more than that

even in Thailand. might make people more wary of making appeals ....do the time

 

regards worgeordie

3 hours ago, billd766 said:

I understand that.

 

What I find hard to understand is why they didn't give him 10 years and 4 months to be commuted to 5 years and 2 months in the first place.

 

Because by pleading guilty, the 50% commutation of any sentence is automatic. There's no option for "leaving it" at the original levy unless there is no guilty plea.

11 hours ago, billd766 said:

What was the point in giving the guy 10 years an 2 months and commuting it by a half?

This is how stupid Thai law is plead guilty and get a 50% discount, that could easily lead to innocent people admitting guilt and does after hours and hours of interrogation. 

20 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

This is how stupid Thai law is plead guilty and get a 50% discount, that could easily lead to innocent people admitting guilt and does after hours and hours of interrogation. 

You don't know any stupid law in your home country?? Man, if I gave you a list of those stupid laws in my home country I would sit here up to tomorrow and typing and typing ....aso.🙏.

Better here in Thailand I reckon.

 

Zebra crossings are not black and white here just a fuzzy shade of grey 🤔

it happens daily and everywhere... the red light ignoring and passengers crossing... red light, green light...

is it fair that this case gathered so much media attention and public consciousness that he had the maximum book thrown at him?  probably not but as an officer of the law he should have known better

12 hours ago, billd766 said:

What was the point in giving the guy 10 years an 2 months and commuting it by a half?

 

Bet he does one year tops, what with annual royal pardons and good behavior.

 

 

 

He will be moved to the police hospital soon,14th floor 

11 hours ago, worgeordie said:

So he was appealing the prison sentence of  1 year and 15 days , and was then given 5 years,

best news of the day , 1 year 15 days was a farce , a person's life is worth much more than that

even in Thailand. might make people more wary of making appeals ....do the time

 

regards worgeordie

It may have been the prosecution lawyers who made the appeal against a sentence they considered too lenient

8 minutes ago, RobU said:

It may have been the prosecution lawyers who made the appeal against a sentence they considered too lenient

 

After being prodded and shamed by the victim's family, possibly.

 

Heck, the "Chop Doc" ( Wisut Boonkasemsanti ) would have walked without the persistence of the victim's family. He was released after serving ~ 11 years on what was originally a death sentence.

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, john donson said:

it happens daily and everywhere... the red light ignoring and passengers crossing... red light, green light...

Some countries use the traffic light system of momentarily pUsing on AMBER in BOTH cycles.

 

So it's green, amber, red.....then from red to amber then green.

 

It works if the lights timing is adjusted accordingly..

 

Mind you, in Thailand, not much adherence to many laws/rules....helmets (if worn, rarely fasten chin strap ),  seatbelts, traffic lights, crosswalks,  Indicators, NO lights on vehicle or bike at night etc.

 

Not Thai bashing, have seen the same in several South Asian and SE Asian countries, excluding Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

But those 3 have working police, traffic cameras and heavy fines 😶

3 hours ago, RobU said:

It may have been the prosecution lawyers who made the appeal against a sentence they considered too lenient

That's why the OP reported exactly that!

"The prosecutor appealed the sentence, demanding higher penalties for the defendant, who also appealed for the prison term to be suspended".

Thad why you should never think that you are safe. Watch out for your life at anywhere, even where you believe that you will be protected by law. When you die it does not matter what will happen next.