Sondhi Convicted For Libel

[webfact]

Sondhi convicted for libel, sentenced with two-year imprisonment

By The Nation

The Criminal Court on Thursday found media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul guilty for defaming

former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula and sentenced him to serve two years in jail.

The court cited Sondhi as a repeat offender for libel to refuse to grant him leniency for a suspended jail term.

In its ruling, the court said Sondhi made wild accusations against Pridiyathorn with the aim to sway the public sentiment but had no evidence to back up his remarks.

Reacting to his verdict, Sondhi said he will fight for an overturn in the appellate review. He has sought a temporary release pending the filing of his appeal within 30 days.

As pliantiff, Pridiyathorn argued that Sondhi had smeared him by linking him to the old power clique, a reference to the ousted government led by ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Sondhi made his news commentary that Pridiyathorn was trying to whitewash the wrongdoing committed by the ousted government.

As examples of the whitewash scam, he cited Pridiyathorn's involvement in the attempt to revive the two-and three-digit lotteries and in protecting former tax chief Sirote Sawasdipanich who was linked to facilitating Thaksin's share transactions.

Sondhi's remarks were published in the Manager newspaper and circulated in the Internet by ThaiDay Dot Com. Both outlets are part of his media empire.

As accomplice to circulate inflammatory remarks, newspaper editor Khunthong Loseriwanit was given a two-year suspended jail term and pay a fine of Bt30,000.

The court also ordered the defence to publish an apology for Pridiyathorn in daily newspapers for five consecutive days.

-- The Nation 2009/09/10

[TAWP]

1) Jail for libel is insane (no-matter who it is)

2) Atleast now some posters lose their ammo that no yellow has any prison sentence set against them.

[Plus]

Jail for libel is insane

How else do you propose to stop it?

Suspended sentences and fines don't seem to have any effect on some offenders, like Samak, for example.

They just don't get it.

What else do you think would teach them a lesson?

[george]

'Yellow Shirt' PAD leader Sondhi gets 2 years jail for defamation

BANGKOK: -- Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of Manager newspaper and leader of the Peoples’ Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the yellow-shirted group that gained international notoriety last year for closing Bangkok’s two commercial airports, was sentenced to two years in prison Thursday after the Criminal Court found him guilty of making libelous statements against former deputy prime minister and finance minister Pridiyathorn Devakula.

The court refused to suspend the sentence as Mr Sondhi had earlier been found guilty on similar charges.

Mr Pridiyathorn filed charges against Mr Sondhi after the media tycoon spoke on his Thailand Weekly talk show on January 12, 2007 accusing the former finance minister with protecting former Revenue Department Director-General Siroj Sawadipanich, who was dismissed for issuing a letter to the ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, while he still held office, that the prime minister’s family was not liable for taxes in the Shin Corp share sell-off to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

Mr Sondhi also criticised the former finance minister for his efforts to push the bill for the two- and three-digit lotto, widely seen by many as possibly providing amnesty for the previous administration for the issuance of the illegal lotto.

The court ruled Mr Sondhi had produced no evidence to substantiate his allegations to the public and handed down a two-year imprisonment.

The court also sentenced the second defendant, Khunthong Lorserivanich, editor of Manager daily, to one year in jail, but the court suspended his jail sentence for two years and fined him 30,000 baht.

The court also ordered that an apology be published in four newspapers for five consecutive days.

Mr Sondhi said he would appeal the verdict and that he is ready to be jailed if his defence fails, but was expected to be freed on bail today.

-- TNA 2009-09-10

[jasreeve17]

Libel is out of control here, and a very sensitive / difficult subject to police / rule on.

I think the key may be - 'The court cited Sondhi as a repeat offender for libel to refuse to grant him leniency for a suspended jail term.'

I kinda agree with TAWP, but kinda agree with Plus too; how do you deal with repeat offenders who don't respect the law? But, you don't want to limit freedom of speech or information (which will sometimes be wrong...)

Sondhi did need reigning in because for years he has been ridiculous, but you do need people to monitor and accuse those in power... Overall, it looks like the judge is right because of the clear and repetitive offences.

Edited September 10, 2009 by jasreeve17

[barry]

is this a new concept: less politique?

[barry]

Jail for libel is insane

How else do you propose to stop it?

Suspended sentences and fines don't seem to have any effect on some offenders, like Samak, for example.

They just don't get it.

What else do you think would teach them a lesson?

a weekend in montenegro with thaksin and his wife?

[MyphuketLife]

1) Jail for libel is insane (no-matter who it is)

2) Atleast now some posters lose their ammo that no yellow has any prison sentence set against them.

1) agree

2) he did not get jail time for the airport or government house... I think that most posters calling for Yellow's to serve time is in regards to their actions NOT words...

[ledi]

1) Jail for libel is insane (no-matter who it is)

2) Atleast now some posters lose their ammo that no yellow has any prison sentence set against them.

1) agree

2) he did not get jail time for the airport or government house... I think that most posters calling for Yellow's to serve time is in regards to their actions NOT words...

I fully agree!

[JetsetBkk]

Better check the airports in about 4 weeks from now.

[Gianni77]

An apology for 5 consecutive days? Does that mean the guy will be happy only after reading the same apology 5 times?

So far yellows are convicted, some reds are convicted, any plans of putting some blues into jail as well? We want balance, no?

Have a nice day everyone...

[BlueSmurf]

Better check the airports in about 4 weeks from now.

Who cares about the Politics! Just love Bill and Ben..How good life used to be..lol Wh would you vote in for Priminister Bill oe Ben?

[TAWP]

Plus>> How about dealing with it like grownups do in other countries?

Edited September 10, 2009 by TAWP

[asiawatcher]

Sondhi took control of an airport either by directive to others or directly using his power base. That in any world is a terrorist act. The Red shirts likewise terrorised the Thai community and are yet to be held to book. The means to an end such as Thaksin to be tried and found guilty on corruption got him two years as well. But on his return the other six charges will be laid and he will not see daylight for a long time if it ever gets upheld.

These matters of Thai legal prerogative re libel, slander and defamation are taken seriously (face) and in a lot of cases, more condemning that worse crimes. Whilst I don't really care about a 2 year sentence - maybe poetic justice through one form or another gets payback despite attempted murder from those yet to be brought to justice re Sondhi. Seems to me it is a levelling of the playing field but would be interesting to see what other charges can be brought against those who as yet, have not been charged.

The mysteries of the Thai legal system...

[john b good]

Well if Sondhi does his time "his two years" what do you think the former "head waiter" is gonna go down for ??

I think that he should be incarcerated and the key thrown out of one of TG's aging airliners mid Pacific.

What Sondhi has done pales by comparison with what the former head waited committed "3,000 extra judicial deaths in his campaign against drugs, how many was it at the massacre at the Krue Sae Mosque, how many died when they stacked some one hundred prisoners on top of each other on a sip law lorry" and God only knows how many more.

What about the lawyer who was taken in Bangkok and has never been seen again to this day.

Sondhi would qualify for a sainthood when compared with the former head waiter.

Edited September 10, 2009 by john b good

[LawnGnome]

Waiting for Jayboy, the king of the "Thai Military Appointed Judiciary never punished the yellows" crew, to explain this conviction....

[hanssna]

made some accusations,... go to jail !

messed up the country.... mai pen rai.

[JetsetBkk]

Better check the airports in about 4 weeks from now.

Who cares about the Politics! Just love Bill and Ben..How good life used to be..lol Wh would you vote in for Priminister Bill oe Ben?

I'd vote for "little weeeed."

Oh, wait a minute, they already did.

[markokang]

Jail for libel is insane

How else do you propose to stop it?

Suspended sentences and fines don't seem to have any effect on some offenders, like Samak, for example.

They just don't get it.

What else do you think would teach them a lesson?

a weekend in montenegro with thaksin and his wife?

He'd probably take the jail term!

[ThNiner]

Waiting for Jayboy, the king of the "Thai Military Appointed Judiciary never punished the yellows" crew, to explain this conviction....

Same here!

[Zolt]

Sondhi - Thaksin 2-2, tie

[tracer5050]

Waiting for Jayboy, the king of the "Thai Military Appointed Judiciary never punished the yellows" crew, to explain this conviction....

Same here!

[Siripon]

Sonti always said he wouldn't run away, if Newin keeps to his word he could be joining him in just over 10 days. It makes Thaksin look more and more cowardly.

[schuimpje]

1) Jail for libel is insane (no-matter who it is)

2) Atleast now some posters lose their ammo that no yellow has any prison sentence set against them.

Insane?

Double those sentences, no triple, tenfold even!!

Thai politicians might even start thinking about what to say before opening their mouth. ;-P

[shaunoro]

He should of been done for insurrection after the airport damage.

[Arkady]

The use of criminal defamation laws can be regarded a criminal offence against freedom of expression in and of itself. Unfortunately, criminal defamation laws also still exist in 17 states of the US and are being actively used there in respect of alleged Internet offences. The Uk's criminal defamation and sedition laws are still on the statute books too, although I think it is nearly 100 years since a prison sentence has been handed down for the offence there. Edward VII, as crown prince, set an example in the UK with his famous "publish and be damned" comment indicating that he would ignore lurid newspaper stories about his rakish lifestyle and would not file libel charges against newspapers or writers. Ghana is ahead of the US, UK and Thailand, having abolished its criminal and sedition laws in 2001. Nothing will change in Thailand for the foreseeable future because politicians like these laws (never expecting to fall victim themselves, even though many do) and this issue impinges on related parts of the Penal Code where reform is not up for discussion.

Edited September 10, 2009 by Arkady

[Samuian]

Sondhi - Thaksin 2-2, tie

in hat case thai-break...

[hardy1943]

1) Jail for libel is insane (no-matter who it is)

2) Atleast now some posters lose their ammo that no yellow has any prison sentence set against them.

Another Kangaroo Court decision,. What else is new, besides the laws are joke

[YouYouYou]

As one poster already pointed out ..watch out at the airports in about 4 weeks.

This yellow dude smoggie and yer manToxin, in my opinion, will never do a day behind bars ..its all smokescreen BS and yes they would let this guy walk out the country too .... far from worry as far as everyone is concerned.

[wensiensheng]

Well if Sondhi does his time "his two years" what do you think the former "head waiter" is gonna go down for ??

I think that he should be incarcerated and the key thrown out of one of TG's aging airliners mid Pacific.

What Sondhi has done pales by comparison with what the former head waited committed "3,000 extra judicial deaths in his campaign against drugs, how many was it at the massacre at the Krue Sae Mosque, how many died when they stacked some one hundred prisoners on top of each other on a sip law lorry" and God only knows how many more.

What about the lawyer who was taken in Bangkok and has never been seen again to this day.

Sondhi would qualify for a sainthood when compared with the former head waiter.

The military anywhere in the world rarely get what they deserve for killing citizens. Take a look at accounts of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam and the "punishment" of four months jail time and then a PARDON for the single solitary US serviceman found guilty of a crime. Take a look at Afganistan just the past week.

Doesn't make any of it right, just means Thailand is in step with the best of the rest of the world in not punishing it's military for causing civilian deaths.