Chuwit gets 5 years jail for bar demolition raid

KESINEE TANGKHIEO

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Court of Appeal sentenced MP Chuwit Kamolvisit to five years in jail yesterday over his role in a notorious raid that razed a group of beer bars in the heart of Bangkok in 2003.

Chuwit, who now leads the Rak Thailand Party, said he would appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court.

Yesterday, he was convicted alongside 65 accomplices over the operation to use force to push bar owners out of an area known as Sukhumvit Square on Sukhumvit Soi 10. The bars sprawled over more than 10 rai of land.

The raid in January 2003 drew a media spotlight and huge public attention because the operation involved backhoes and hundreds of robust men. All beer bars on the block were demolished.

At the time of the demolition, Chuwit was a massage-parlour tycoon, yet to enter politics. His accomplices included Lt Colonel Himalai Phiewphan, a military officer attached to the Armed Forces Development in 2003, and Major Thanyathep Thammathorn, who worked at the 11th Infantry Battalion, the Royal Guards.

All 131 defendants in the case denied any wrongdoing. However, about half were found guilty by the Court of Appeal. "Witnesses including some policemen saw the defendants before, during, and after the demolition at the scene," the court said.

Chuwit was granted bail pending a review by the Supreme Court. As an MP carrying out his duty during a parliamentary session, he was not required to post any collateral.

Himalai and Thanyathep both posted collateral for bail.

Initially, the Criminal Court acquitted most defendants in the case including Chuwit, Himalai, and Thanyathep in 2006. The Criminal Court convicted just a lawyer, Chanwet Malaibucha, who received an eight-month jail term.

Chanwet, prosecutors and co-plaintiffs appealed against the 2006 verdict. Yesterday, he also received a five-year jail term.

-- The Nation 2012-09-12

File photo

Sounds like all these former thugs and pimps have moved on to become fine upstanding members of society. He won't do the time. So now that he has been convicted of an offence I would presume that he will be leaving politics.

Edited September 11, 201213 yr by chooka

Initially, the Criminal Court acquitted most defendants in the case including Chuwit, Himalai, and Thanyathep in 2006. The Criminal Court convicted just a lawyer, Chanwet Malaibucha, who received an eight-month jail term.

It appears that one can have such things hang over them, regardless of any previous verdict. No "double jeopardy" statutes in Thailand. Keep trying until you get the verdict you like!

He needs to go to jail, what he did to the livelyhood of those bar owners was a disgrace, plus, he flattened my local and one of the best pool bars in Bangkok. For anyone who isn't aware he basically hired the army to flatten the block whilst the BIB stood by and let it happen.

From that photo, looks like he's been eating maggots already.

Well this will be interesting, I wonder when the statute of limitations is on this one, it is pushing 10 years since the crime already.What is interesting is that Chuwit has just been sentenced, yet he is still a serving MP...in session? Currently non of the court cases against some of the red leaders are being heard because the red leaders are serving MP's. This clearly sets precedence that hearings and sentencing can take place.

Very funny that the lawyer appeals an 8 month sentence and gets 5 years...Doh!

Edited for wrong word!

Edited September 12, 201213 yr by GentlemanJim

So I guess the gambling dens in Bangkok are safe now?

Well this will be interesting, I wonder when the statutory of limitations is on this one, it is pushing 10 years since the crime already.What is interesting is that Chuwit has just been sentenced, yet he is still a serving MP...in session? Currently non of the court cases against some of the red leaders are being heard because the red leaders are serving MP's. This clearly sets precedence that hearings and sentencing can take place.

Very funny that the lawyer appeals an 8 month sentence and gets 5 years...Doh!

Thailand may be different but normally with the statute of limitation it means that the charges have to be filed with the court within that time. This matter has already been heard and is now just an appeal.

Well this will be interesting, I wonder when the statutory of limitations is on this one, it is pushing 10 years since the crime already.What is interesting is that Chuwit has just been sentenced, yet he is still a serving MP...in session? Currently non of the court cases against some of the red leaders are being heard because the red leaders are serving MP's. This clearly sets precedence that hearings and sentencing can take place.

Very funny that the lawyer appeals an 8 month sentence and gets 5 years...Doh!

Thailand may be different but normally with the statute of limitation it means that the charges have to be filed with the court within that time. This matter has already been heard and is now just an appeal.

Thanks

I guess that means that Thaksin can outrun crimes he has not yet been charged with, but his original 2 year jail term must stick then. Though wasn't there recently the Banker who came back to Thailand after years in exile as his crime is now past its sell by date? I thought he had been charged? Whatever, this is a story bound to sell more newspapers!

So is it the case in Thailand that when you are convicted, you appeal, get bail then walk out? Isn't it in most countries, you go to jail first, then post bail?

Rumor is, he has a video library of VIPs fornicating at his massage parlors.

That should keep him out of the slammer.

Hope that this scum losses his appeal and end s up in jail with some other inmates finishing him off.....this guy was once selling girls including underaged girls from neighbouring countries and yet Thais voted him in. I also hope that someday somebody would send his kids to work in a brothel. Simply filth along with the media and people who support him.

Regardless how much you liked the soi 10 bar scene, Chuwit's razing was justified as the bar owners were just greedy squatters whose lease had expired and refused to leave on land that was being sold. The razing was perhaps the most rational solution to solve a chaotic problem handled in the Thai way which has been repeated over and over elsewhere in Thailand. Immediately after the incident, Thaksin condemned the razing and vowed to find and prosecute those involved. The supreme court ruling should be interesting.

So is it the case in Thailand that when you are convicted, you appeal, get bail then walk out? Isn't it in most countries, you go to jail first, then post bail?

Actually in most countries you get arrested and charged and then post bail while awaiting your trial

If at trial you are convicted, you are then normally taken immediately into custody and transferred into the prison system

Where you have to stay incarcerated until the time of your appeal and are only released if the original conviction has been overturned by the appeals court.

Which means there is absolutely no chance of being released on bail while waiting for your appeal

He's a disgrace to the nation........this is the rotten evil corrupt Thailand we all detest personified

Scum, total scum.

Hope that this scum losses his appeal and end s up in jail with some other inmates finishing him off.....this guy was once selling girls including underaged girls from neighbouring countries and yet Thais voted him in. I also hope that someday somebody would send his kids to work in a brothel. Simply filth along with the media and people who support him.

Running brothels and facing criminal charges he must of had one magnificent P.R machine behind him to get elected.

He looks a right sleazeball pimp with the shades on.

He's a disgrace to the nation........this is the rotten evil corrupt Thailand we all detest personified

Scum, total scum.

I hear that he is very good to his mother though.

You'd think they'd try to keep stories like this hushed. They really are quite embarrassing for Thailand. I mean granting bail after a conviction and then inevitably having the rich/well connected convicted criminal overturn/erase the conviction never to see the inside of a jail cell.

The final bar fine for Chuwit.I hope they allow him to pimp his cell out. Those "gambling dens which do not exist" can now be operated without impediment by the "people who are not connected to a certain rich and powerful Northern family".

Edit: removed bold

Edited September 12, 201213 yr by dave1212

I remember the Demolition of that Bar area in 2003.. I am amazed it has taking 9 years to bring this guy and his helpers to Justice.

But we all know, like Thaksin he will not see on par-second in Jail.

People will get paid off. and no appeal will be necessary

Edited September 12, 201213 yr by jerrysteve

Hope that this scum losses his appeal and end s up in jail with some other inmates finishing him off.....this guy was once selling girls including underaged girls from neighbouring countries and yet Thais voted him in. I also hope that someday somebody would send his kids to work in a brothel. Simply filth along with the media and people who support him.

Running brothels and facing criminal charges he must of had one magnificent P.R machine behind him to get elected.

Seems Thais really like to elect/vote for criminals, alleged criminals and downright nasty people...

... look at the current government, i suspect you could find more than a handful there

And i suspect Jaivin2011 will be right along with proof and evidence into his 'underage girls' comment, surely he wouldn't cast allegations without proof? right...

Lucky he didn't do the Downtown Inn they wouldn't have had time to video it.

Chuwit had declared that he had put all this behind him !!

He played after "the rules" for this kind of business.

He had been kidnapped one time, but it is like people are a bit scared !

What he do now as an MP will i take my hat of for !

He is not scared to talk about all the sick corruption things in Thailand, and we need much more who start talk and act as he does !

But of course he have to be responibil for things he did before !

I remember this day, was living on soi 11 at the time, came around the corner for a coffee at the French sounding cafe place where sofitel now sits and across the street it was gone. didnt even move out pool tables, tvs, fridges or bar stock, just bull-dozed everything in site.

I remember this day, was living on soi 11 at the time, came around the corner for a coffee at the French sounding cafe place where sofitel now sits and across the street it was gone. didnt even move out pool tables, tvs, fridges or bar stock, just bull-dozed everything in site.

Well I hope he was required to compensate the owners for thier building, fittings and stock that he destroyed now that he was found guilty of wrong doing.

I remember this day, was living on soi 11 at the time, came around the corner for a coffee at the French sounding cafe place where sofitel now sits and across the street it was gone. didnt even move out pool tables, tvs, fridges or bar stock, just bull-dozed everything in site.

Well I hope he was required to compensate the owners for thier building, fittings and stock that he destroyed now that he was found guilty of wrong doing.

If Chuwit acted outside the law then he must be punished for that, but don't start feeling sorry for all the bar owners. They were squatters and occupying land where the lease had run out. The owner of the land is perfectly entitled to have their land back to do with whatever they want and the bar owners had said 'no' (in much more colourful words). The bar owners had been given notice, in the UK the baliffs would move in and clear the land, here they got a heavy mob in. Same same only slightly different.

There was 1 ot 2 midle men involved, they had a lease from Chuwit, Chuwit had chanclelled the lease, but these midlemen still leased it out to bars !!

Chuwit admitted he had done something wrong, therefore he did not sell or build on the land (valued severak hundred million Baht) he made a park Chuwit Park !!! Humor he have !

Regardless how much you liked the soi 10 bar scene, Chuwit's razing was justified as the bar owners were just greedy squatters whose lease had expired and refused to leave on land that was being sold. The razing was perhaps the most rational solution to solve a chaotic problem handled in the Thai way which has been repeated over and over elsewhere in Thailand. Immediately after the incident, Thaksin condemned the razing and vowed to find and prosecute those involved. The supreme court ruling should be interesting.

greedy squatters?

to my recollection the leases had not expired, they were illegally extended and sub leased out by the lessee. The "squatters" believed they had valid leases.

As for the razing being a rational solution (we are not even going to discuss the legality of the issue because the verdict already establishes that), your remark strikes me akin to saying murder is a ration solution to a messy divorce.

Anyways, its not all bad, Bangkok now has a lovely park that is open for two whole hours every morning and evening.

I get to explain almost daily to a 5 year old as we walk home from school why we can go in.

Edited September 12, 201213 yr by tinfoilhat

Regardless how much you liked the soi 10 bar scene, Chuwit's razing was justified as the bar owners were just greedy squatters whose lease had expired and refused to leave on land that was being sold. The razing was perhaps the most rational solution to solve a chaotic problem handled in the Thai way which has been repeated over and over elsewhere in Thailand. Immediately after the incident, Thaksin condemned the razing and vowed to find and prosecute those involved. The supreme court ruling should be interesting.

greedy squatters?

to my recollection the leases had not expired, they were illegally extended and sub leased out by the lessee. The "squatters" believed they had valid leases.

As for the razing being a rational solution (we are not even going to discuss the legality of the issue because the verdict already establishes that), your remark strikes me akin to saying murder is a ration solution to a messy divorce.

Anyways, its not all bad, Bangkok now has a lovely park that is open for two whole hours every morning and evening.

I get to explain almost daily to a 5 year old as we walk home from school why we can go in.

Glad you pointed this out to the utterly misinformed.

People, get it? People lost their investments and livelihoods, without warning or recourse. Foolish, uninformed comments have no place in this discussion.