Two Red Shirts Sentenced To 20 Months In Jail For Bomb Possession

[Lite Beer]

Two red shirts sentenced to 20 months in jail for bomb possession

The Nation

The Criminal Court on Friday found two red shirts guilty of possessing homemade bombs during the last year's violence and sentenced each a 20-month imprisonment.

In the wake of riots at Din Daeng, the prosecution tried three red defenants, Veera Saipim, Chakrit Chomthong and Krairung Onkham on the charges related for the violations of emergency rule and the possession of explosives.

Two defendants, Veera and Chakrit, admitted to having explosives, known as pingpong bombs, although they claimed that they had attended the rally before returning to their Sakon Nakhon hometown.

They said the bombs were intended to chase away birds foraging at their respective farms.

Krairung admitted to attend the rally with the two but denied any knowledge about the bombs. The two backed up her testimony.

In its ruling the court said pingpong bombs were common weapons found at various rallies and not designed for farming purpose, hence striking down the defence argument.

After handing down the conviction, the court initially sentenced Veera and Chakrit to each serve two years for bomb possession and another six months in jail for violating the emergency rule. The sentencing was then commuted due to the two's confession.

Krairung was acquitted for bomb possession but found guilty of violating the emergency rule. She was sentenced to serve six months in jail and pay a fine of Bt5,000. The court cited her first offence as ground for leniency, suspend her imprisonment for one year.

-- The Nation 2011-09-30

[whybother]

The sentencing was then commuted due to the two's confession.

What confession?

Two defendants, Veera and Chakrit, admitted to having explosives, known as pingpong bombs, although they claimed that they had attended the rally before returning to their Sakon Nakhon hometown.

They said the bombs were intended to chase away birds foraging at their respective farms.

[ozzieman05]

Red shirts making bombs

No way

Ask and Government Minister they will tell you this could not be

Time for a high court opinion

[apetley]

Can someone please explain to me that being caught in possession of explosives at a violent rally in bkk and saying that they were in fact a bird scaring device for use on the farm is worthy to be considered a truthful confession and so gain a more lenient sentence? Unbelievable!!!

[GazR]

The confession seems to be that they admitted to being in possession of said devices - not about their intended purpose. Kowjai?

[Misterwhisper]

I know that sort of so-called 'ping-pong bombs'. They are little more than powerful firecrackers, yet do have the ability to inflict serious injuries when thrown at somebody and exploding in close proximity. They have been banned for years.

Isn't it amazing to what measures simple farmers resort nowadays to scare the birds off their fields?

Besides, I was under the impression that all redshirts were peaceful people who just wanted to protest for their rights and that in fact they are the victims. But hey, those 'bombs' were only bird scaring devices anyway. Never ever did the defendents contemplate that they might use them for some other purpose than getting rid of wretched birds.

In any case, 20 months in jail is reasonable enough, in my opinion. I am actually surprised they even received that much - with the wind blowing from a new direction and all, I mean.

[whybother]

The confession seems to be that they admitted to being in possession of said devices - not about their intended purpose. Kowjai?

Weren't they caught in possession of the explosives? That's hardly a confession.

They denied what they were found guilty of. The "confession" shouldn't have had any effect on the sentence.

[lannarebirth]

The confession seems to be that they admitted to being in possession of said devices - not about their intended purpose. Kowjai?

That is a fact not in dispute, as the bombs were found in their possession.

[PoorSucker]

No problem. amnesty is coming soon.

[OzMick]

They confessed to possession.

The lame exculpatory excuse had to be given to explain WHY they had possession. If they had said they intended to throw the bombs at army or police units, they could have been charged with much more serious offences.

[ballpoint]

It's all falling into place. These are obviously the criminals that the red leaders associated with. Now that these criminals have been dealt with, the red leaders can have all charges against them dropped.

[PoorSucker]

It's all falling into place. These are obviously the criminals that the red leaders associated with. Now that these criminals have been dealt with, the red leaders can have all charges against them dropped.

There's not going to be any charges.

Everything is going through the truth commission now.

[lannarebirth]

It's all falling into place. These are obviously the criminals that the red leaders associated with. Now that these criminals have been dealt with, the red leaders can have all charges against them dropped.

There's not going to be any charges.

Everything is going through the truth commission now.

And from there on to the memory hole.

[ralphlsasser]

Can someone please explain to me that being caught in possession of explosives at a violent rally in bkk and saying that they were in fact a bird scaring device for use on the farm is worthy to be considered a truthful confession and so gain a more lenient sentence? Unbelievable!!!

That's typically why Thailand is so crime ridden. 20 months for bomb possession and a 5,000 baht fine? Give them 20 years and a $500,000 fine and if they live long enough to get released, they'll think twice before they do it again. Their sentence wasn't much more than a slap on their hands. TIT

[moe666]

The real criminals will go unpunished, while the little guys like these farmers get the shaft for doing what they were told to do.

[Deez]

The sentencing was then commuted due to the two's confession.

What confession?

Two defendants, Veera and Chakrit, admitted to having explosives, known as pingpong bombs, although they claimed that they had attended the rally before returning to their Sakon Nakhon hometown.

They said the bombs were intended to chase away birds foraging at their respective farms.

Exactly. It seems every sentence in thailand gets halved due to "confession" after the trial.

[nurofiend]

Red shirts making bombs

No way

yeah way man,

here's another instance.... all just to make it look suspiciously like it might've belonged to the completely pacifist yellow shirts of course

http://www.thaivisa....vernment-house/

Edited October 1, 2011 by nurofiend

[dru2]

Unfortunately, it's the same syndrome as "no fail" in education.

Everyone knows that rich, influential and connected Thais can get away with just about anything.

It's also true, but perhaps less recognised, that ethnic Thais or Sino-Thais are much more likely to have their sentences commuted on spurious grounds such as confession after the fact. In an clear expression of what this ultimately corrupt (but lovely) little country is all about, those who actually receive the death sentence and are actually put to death are almost never ethnic Thais, and certainly not Sino-Thais, but almost always Hill Tribes or "Jiin Haw" Chinese from Yunnan who are not part of the Sino-Thai elite.

I have been here for well over thirty years and nothing seems to change.

[Buchholz]

The Criminal Court on Friday found two red shirts guilty of possessing homemade bombs during the last year's violence and sentenced each a 20-month imprisonment.

A couple of Red Shirt Bombers out of action.... for a bit, anyway.

.