Court Sentences Bangkok Squatters For Illegal Occupation

[webfact]

 

Four individuals were sentenced by the Min Buri Criminal Court for illegal occupation and trespassing on private property in Bangkok. The four defendants, identified as Sriprapha, Nittaya, Polkrit, and Mali, also faced charges of property damage and theft, leading to a total fine of 22,000 baht coupled with a compensation payment totaling 1 million baht to be made to the homeowner.

 

The group illicitly claimed ownership of a house owned by an individual identified as Agoo and only vacated it by the end of last year. The case was brought to the Khok Kram Police Station after the defendants' unlawful return to the property to reassert their claim.

 

Despite their advanced age, the individuals were asked to pay damages to the victim in three installments, which has been agreed to amicably. Meanwhile, the court granted the defendants bail for 50,000 baht each.

 

The court found the defendants guilty of intruding the property twice between 2017 and 2023, during which they made structural additions to the dwelling while they resided there. However, due to lack of evidence of night time trespassing, the court regarded the trespassing as a daytime offence.

 

The court used sections 335 and 365, along with section 83 of the Criminal Code to sentence the group to a total of 18 months in prison and a 22,000 baht fine collectively. However, upon admitting guilt, these sentences were reduced to 9 months in jail and an 11,000 baht fine, with the imprisonment sentence being suspended for two years. 

 

This leniency was due to the defendant's advanced age and the agreed payment of 1 million baht in damages to the victim. Additional charges of property damage were later withdrawn, closing the case at trial. 

 

A representative of the victim stated this case should serve as a reminder that illegal actions have consequences and should not be considered acceptable.

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

-- 2024-05-08

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[flyingtlger]

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

The court found the defendants guilty of intruding the property twice between 2017 and 2023, during which they made structural additions to the dwelling while they resided there. However, due to lack of evidence of night time trespassing, the court regarded the trespassing as a daytime offence.

None of this makes any sense.....

[Korat Kiwi]

Any crime in Thailand that is committed at night time is a bigger offence and also a separate offence. 

 

As they had no proof that it occurred at night time, those charges were abandoned. 

 

Very strange I agree but TIT

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Four individuals were sentenced by the Min Buri Criminal Court for illegal occupation and trespassing on private property in Bangkok. The four defendants, identified as Sriprapha, Nittaya, Polkrit, and Mali, also faced charges of property damage and theft, leading to a total fine of 22,000 baht coupled with a compensation payment totaling 1 million baht to be made to the homeowner.

Lucky it's not somewhere else in the world... they would have awarded the squatters the keys and jailed the owner.

[ignore it]

There are very many squatters in Asia especially in rural areas, but few illegally occupying houses.