Thai Actor Somchai Under Detention

Actor Somchai under detention

By The Nation

Actor Somchai Khemklad was given 15 days under detention yesterday after a Lampang court turned down his request for temporary release over charges of assaulting a grocery store owner two years ago.

Somchai missed a scheduled meeting last Friday to hear his appeal, but showed up in court on Monday. The court turned down his request and ordered immediate detention - a ruling that was upheld by the Court of Appeals. Detention lasts until April 25.

The lower court's decision to give him 15 days in detention for assaulting Weerachart Dejsirikul in January 2009 is considered lenient. The Court of Appeals dismissed his defence because he had already violated his parole for an earlier sentence - suspended threemonth imprisonment and four instances of public service for attacking a man in Chiang Mai.

-- The Nation 2011-04-13