COURT

Death terms for former MP and politician from Loei

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court yesterday confirmed death sentences for a former Democrat MP for Bangkok Sithiporn Kham-art and a local politician from Loei after finding them guilty of masterminding the 1997 murder of the Democrat MP for Chanthaburi Komkai Polabutr's mother.

Sithiporn and Ekasit Yoosuk, a former Loei provincial official, were sentenced to death while Prasong Saengchan and Sergeant Nikom Jitrakul were sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to murder Pattama Fuangprayoon, the wife of former Chantaburi provincial official Sanit Fuangprayoon, and Komkai's mother.

The four also have been convicted of attempted murder, premeditated murder, masterminding a murder, violation of the Guns and Ammunition Act 1947 and possessing explosives and guns without permission.

The court testimony revealed that Pattama was killed in a car explosion after driving the vehicle with a bomb planted underneath, which hit against a cement floor.

Sergeant Songrit Thewanurak, who died later, was one of the suspects. Songrit confessed that he, Ekasit, Nikom and Prasong planned to kill Sanit by planting a bomb under his car while he was having a massage in a parlour in Rayong. But the bomb did not explode after they pushed the remote control. It went off when Pattama drove it the next day.

In November 2006, the Criminal Court sentenced Ekasit and Sithiporn to death, but commuted the death term to life in jail for Prasong and Nikom as they had confessed to the crime.

The Court of Appeal upheld the lower court ruling in May 2009. The Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeal ruling on the ground that prosecutors had solid evidence to counter the suspects' testimonies. Sithiporn and Ekasit denied knowing Prasong but phone records showed they were in contact. Workers at the massage parlour also testified that they had seen them the night before the car explosion. Sithiporn testified that he chaired a funeral during the incident but he did not have a single photo to back his claim.

Sithiporn also testified that he had no conflicts with Komkai but was a target of political harassment because he worked in the same constituency as then deputy interior minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. The court read that Chalerm was not found to be involved in the case during the investigation.

Sithiporn and Ekasit were stunned upon hearing the verdict, read to them at Bang Kwang Prison, where they are being held. They were told they have the right to seek a Royal pardon.

-- The Nation 2012-09-19

Wow, I guess former politicians are not above the law after all.

This is terrible, why are they not out on bail.

I thought if you were sentenced to death you got bail straight away.......oh I must have been wrong.

They are still being treated differently. They have not quite lost as much weight as Victor Bout did during his detention! Also the two of them have a pair of light weight cuffs on between them. Normal prisoners, especially those on such serious crimes are shackled like the guy you can just make out behind, with cuffs attached to leg chains.

Still, I guess they will be out once Thaksin secures the 'amnesty for all involved in political crimes'. No wonder one of them can manage a half smile.

Very strange that they 'pressed the remote control' for the bomb and it went off the following day! They must have been using a signal from the same ISP as I have.

The guy on the far right near the wall looks pretty please with the outcome.

This is terrible, why are they not out on bail. I thought if you were sentenced to death you got bail straight away.......oh I must have been wrong.

could still happen and/or pardon.

The guy on the far right near the wall looks pretty please with the outcome.

The one on the right is thinking at least I can play with my -privates

It loks like a criminal conviction is a jobrequirement for Thai MP's. One can only be sorry for the people of Thailand.

They are not getting the death penalty. If you read, their sentences were reduced to life in prison for pleading guilty.

Every criminal in Thailand has the right to seek a Royal Pardon.

I'm sure their time won't be spent in a 7 x 10 cell like most but they will be more or less treated well similar to how the Mafia is treated in jail in the USA.

They are not getting the death penalty. If you read, their sentences were reduced to life in prison for pleading guilty.

Every criminal in Thailand has the right to seek a Royal Pardon.

I'm sure their time won't be spent in a 7 x 10 cell like most but they will be more or less treated well similar to how the Mafia is treated in jail in the USA.

Their sentences were not reduced to life in prison - that was another two people. These two had their death sentences confirmed.

It loks like a criminal conviction is a jobrequirement for Thai MP's. One can only be sorry for the people of Thailand.

They get the government and MP's they deserve.

They pissed off the wrong people. Fellow Democrats too. Says a lot about "the other side". If they murdered anyone but another MP's relative, they'd get away scot-free. After all, we're just regular cannon fodder for politicians.

They are not getting the death penalty. If you read, their sentences were reduced to life in prison for pleading guilty.

Every criminal in Thailand has the right to seek a Royal Pardon.

I'm sure their time won't be spent in a 7 x 10 cell like most but they will be more or less treated well similar to how the Mafia is treated in jail in the USA.

Re read the article, they were originally sentenced to death which got reduced to life but now the Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence. Only way out is a Royal pardon.

They are not getting the death penalty. If you read, their sentences were reduced to life in prison for pleading guilty.

Every criminal in Thailand has the right to seek a Royal Pardon.

I'm sure their time won't be spent in a 7 x 10 cell like most but they will be more or less treated well similar to how the Mafia is treated in jail in the USA.

Sithiporn and Ekasit Yoosuk, a former Loei provincial official, were sentenced to death while Prasong Saengchan and Sergeant Nikom Jitrakul were sentenced to life in prison

...

In November 2006, the Criminal Court sentenced Ekasit and Sithiporn to death, but commuted the death term to life in jail for Prasong and Nikom as they had confessed to the crime.

Two with a death penalty and two with life sentences.

They are still being treated differently. They have not quite lost as much weight as Victor Bout did during his detention! Also the two of them have a pair of light weight cuffs on between them. Normal prisoners, especially those on such serious crimes are shackled like the guy you can just make out behind, with cuffs attached to leg chains.

Still, I guess they will be out once Thaksin secures the 'amnesty for all involved in political crimes'. No wonder one of them can manage a half smile.

Very strange that they 'pressed the remote control' for the bomb and it went off the following day! They must have been using a signal from the same ISP as I have.

Look at the picture again they are both holding pieces of string supporting their shackles , just like the guy behind them.

The only difference is they have new string and bright orange uniforms.

But maybe that's a death row thing?

This is terrible, why are they not out on bail.

I thought if you were sentenced to death you got bail straight away.......oh I must have been wrong.

They shamed Thailand with the locally produced bomb that failed to go off, won't get bail for that.

Cold blooded premeditated and great to see.

VIP suites are gonna be full with these 2, Sondhi and Chuwit already at the check-in counter. Get those welcome drinks ready too.