Appeal Court Reduces Confessed Thai Bomber's Jail Term

[webfact]

Appeal court reduces confessed bomber's jail term
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A bomber convicted for a 2010 attack on the Bhum Jai Thai Party yesterday had his jail term slashed from 35 years to five years.

The Appeals Court cited minimal damage as ground for leniency to reduce the sentencing.

A lower court last April found Anek Singkhuntod, 29, guilty of bombing the party headquarters.

Working with five accomplices who were tried separately, Anek concealed a home-made bomb in his fruit cart before pushing it passed the headquarters.

The blast caused damage to the party's back walls, some vehicles parked nearby, and a lean-to of a food vendor. Anek also sustained serious injuries that resulted in blindness.

In the appeal ruling, the high court confirmed his conviction. But it found the sentence too harsh.

The total damage amounted to Bt90,000, and therefore the penalty was adjusted to be commensurate with consequences of his crime.

After overturning the initial sentence, the high court ruled for a 10-year imprisonment. It then cited his confession for further leniency to cut that jail term in half.

-- The Nation 2013-04-10

[rkidlad]

The Appeals Court cited minimal damage as ground for leniency to reduce the sentencing

It's not as if the poor guy wanted anything more than minimal damage.

[Bluespunk]

Think he hurt himself more than anyone else. Also lets face it, Bhum Jai Thai did support the dems under Abhisit's govt and PT have refused to let them join their gang. PT doesn't like this party so I'm not surprised bombing them is viewed as a lesser offence.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Bluespunk

[dcutman]

This is very good news for those considering a similar endeavor.

[A Member]

This is very good news for those considering a similar endeavor.

As long as they keep the damage minimal. Thai justice at it's twisted, illogical best, surprised the sentence wasn't suspended

[AleG]

How about those who ordered the bombing?

[Pib]

In another case the bomber said, But judge, the nuke didn't detonate. In response the judge says, You're right...therefore, the sentence is a 5000 baht fine vs the death penalty....and you are barred from drinking and driving during Songkran.

[dcutman]

This is very good news for those considering a similar endeavor.

As long as they keep the damage minimal. Thai justice at it's twisted, illogical best, surprised the sentence wasn't suspended

Boggles the mind.

Following the courts logic here, If he would have been apprehended with his finger on the trigger of the detonator, causing no damage. He would have been released with an apology, compensation and handed the keys to the city.

Edited April 10, 2013 by dcutman

[technologybytes]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

[FarangTalk]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

Correct but don't let facts or compassion get in the way of a good-old, obsessive, anti-Thaksin, anti-red shirt tirade.

[MikeOboe57]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

Correct but don't let facts or compassion get in the way of a good-old, obsessive, anti-Thaksin, anti-red shirt tirade.

Au contraire. I think it very compassionate to keep a blinded terrorist confined to familiar surroundings to make him feel safe and secure. Now they are prematurely tossing him out into a dark jungle of strange sounds and smells.

[OzMick]

When does he get his compensation money?

[animatic]

Many could have been died and been maimed, no sympathy for this stupid person.

And not for the appeals court either, the original court got it right.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Compared to 20 years and died in Jail for SMS.

or

15 years for selling 10 copied CD's on Sukhumvite that he owned.

HUB of Hypercritical sentences.

[bri1guy]

ONLY five years but if he would have seriously hurt or even killed people it would be double this amount of time. He will prabably be hurt himself in prison so 5 yrs is probably fair after all...

Edited April 10, 2013 by metisdead
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[BrianCR]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

Correct but don't let facts or compassion get in the way of a good-old, obsessive, anti-Thaksin, anti-red shirt tirade.

Don't tell us Thaksin paid the judges off, right?

[Buchholz]

This is very good news for those considering a similar endeavor.

.

Agree, it's quite encouraging.

To go from a lifer sentence to a fiver is quite the incentive.

Additionally, still waiting for any news on the cases of his co-conspirators. It's been three years since they were indicted.

The six suspects facing prosecution are Mr Kampol Kamkong, Mr Dejpol Puthajong, Mr Kobchai Boonplod, Ms Varisariya Boonsom, Mr Anek Singkhunthod and Mr Suriya Phumwong. They are charged for producing, possessing and detonating bombs as well as terrorism.

The six suspects facing prosecution are -

Kampol Kamkong:

(Red Shirt Bomb Assembler)

http://www.thailando...?DataID=1031284

Mr Dejpol Puthajong:

(Red Shirt Bomb Assembler)

http://www.thailando...?DataID=1031284

Mr Kobchai Boonplod:

(Red Shirt Bomb Mastermind)

http://www.thailando...?DataID=1032047

Ms Varisariya Boonsom,

(Red Shirt Bomb Mastermind)

http://www.thailando...?DataID=1032047

Mr Anek Singkhunthod

(Non-specific Bomb Pushcarter)

http://www.mcot.net/...page/74325.html

Mr Suriya Phumwong

(Non-specific Bomb Assembler)

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__3865119

.

Curious that all six were indicted at the same time in 2010, but only Anek was convicted in 2012 and even has had a further adjudication to the appeals court heard and decided upon in 2013.

Unable to find any information regarding any further adjudication of the other Red Shirts involved beyond their initial indictment three years ago.

.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

How about those who ordered the bombing?

.

Indeed.

As per above posts, the Red Shirts ran the operation that Anek was convicted of.

Nary a word on any of their cases.

.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

.

Yes, it would be fitting of his cooperation, for such a light sentence, that he testifies for the State in the cases against the Red Shirt Bomb Masterminds (as the press called them) and the Red Shirt Bomb Assemblers that provided the means for his blindness.

Heck, if even only for retribution for that life-long disability, he should be a willing witness against his co-conspirators. But between the two major reasons, he should definitely be on the witness stand telling all.

His testimony could put them away for life (the same sentence he was originally given).

Except, in their case, it would hopefully stick.

.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Buchholz

[Thai at Heart]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

Well 5 years seems more in level than 35, but all these explanations of mitigating circumstances is stupid.

The issue is what did the bomb intend to do and what did it achieve, not whether he's a nice guy. Timothy McVeigh was a nice bloke till he did what he did right?

[seajae]

the intent to kill as many as possible doesnt seem to matter, looks like thaksin payments are working very well for him and the red shirts.

[Buchholz]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

l these explanations of mitigating circumstances is stupid.

The issue is what did the bomb intend to do and what did it achieve, not whether he's a nice guy. Timothy McVeigh was a nice bloke till he did what he did right?

.

Coincidentally, the intent was not dissimilar to McVeigh's, albeit on a smaller scale.

The intent was evident in the materials used. Petrol and TNT.

The intent was to bomb a building that was the headquarters of a political party. A building with dozens of people.

.

A cooking gas cylinder, believed to be filled with petrol and reinforced with TNT, exploded late yesterday morning near Bhum Jai Thai's headquarters in Soi Phaholyothin 43, Bang Khen district.

A fruit vendor confessed that he was hired to park a pushcart carrying the 15 kilogram gas cylinder in front of the party's HQ.

The Nation

Published on June 23, 2010

Edited April 10, 2013 by Buchholz

[Payboy]

Anek also sustained serious injuries that resulted in blindness.

Maybe, they can graft him with the Iranian bomber that lost his legs; and make something useful out of both of them, I reckon.

[spidermike007]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

Correct but don't let facts or compassion get in the way of a good-old, obsessive, anti-Thaksin, anti-red shirt tirade.

This really has nothing to do with the ill mannered, greedy, selfish pig living in exile in Dubai. This has to do with the gutless behavior of the Thai judiciary. They are some of the weakest, smallest, least courageous, and least independent judges in the world. They are simply afraid to hand out sentences that are commensurate with a crime. They are the laughingstock of the world, and will continue to be so, unless there is serious reform here. And the chances of Thailand becoming the number one economy in the world are greater than the chances of reform here.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[OzMick]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

Correct but don't let facts or compassion get in the way of a good-old, obsessive, anti-Thaksin, anti-red shirt tirade.

Don't tell us Thaksin paid the judges off, right?

So I take it that the above posters accept planting bombs as a legitimate form of political expression? Or perhaps just a justifiable dummy-spit when you don't get your political wishes fulfilled?

At the very least, should not those who ordered and planned this attack, supplied the materials and built the bomb, be equally culpable and similarly prosecuted?

Since when are the injuries received by a bomber due to his own incompetence an amelioration of guilt? Did he not intend similar or worse injuries and terror on others?

Edited April 10, 2013 by OzMick

[Buchholz]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

Correct but don't let facts or compassion get in the way of a good-old, obsessive, anti-Thaksin, anti-red shirt tirade.

Don't tell us Thaksin paid the judges off, right?

So I take it that the above posters accept planting bombs as a legitimate form of political expression? Or perhaps just a justifiable dummy-spit when you don't get your political wishes fulfilled?

At the very least, should not those who ordered and planned this attack, supplied the materials and built the bomb, be equally culpable and similarly prosecuted?

Since when are the injuries received by a bomber due to his own incompetence an amelioration of guilt? Did he not intend similar or worse injuries and terror on others?

With the Red Shirts up to their eyeballs with their involvement in this case, their discomfort is obvious.

That it involves other red shirts with the red shirt masterminds fleeing to cambodia and hun sen's protection as well as their bomb making makes for bad public relations for this so called peaceful democracy movement.

.

[Arkady]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

I disagree. He accepted pay to commit a terrorist act with clear intent to kill and maim innocent people who had done him no harm and destroy other people's property. The fact that he mainly harmed himself is only slightly mitigating compared to the intent. Actually serving 7-10 years would be more appropriate. It is not as if he cooperated to the extent that they were able to convict his paymaster. He was also fined 100 baht that was reduced to 50 baht. What a pathetic example of Thai justice.

[technologybytes]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

I disagree. He accepted pay to commit a terrorist act with clear intent to kill and maim innocent people who had done him no harm and destroy other people's property. The fact that he mainly harmed himself is only slightly mitigating compared to the intent. Actually serving 7-10 years would be more appropriate. It is not as if he cooperated to the extent that they were able to convict his paymaster. He was also fined 100 baht that was reduced to 50 baht. What a pathetic example of Thai justice.

He was paid to push the "bomb" on his cart, I doubt that there was much intent beyond getting paid.

Political crimes are often committed in the heat of the moment, whilst perpetrators are charged up by speeches and spurred on by others.

Seriously, he probably thought that all he was doing was damaging a wall.

Anyway, the appeal judges had all the facts.. we don't.. so it's a bit silly really to assume that we are better able to dispense justice!

[Thai at Heart]

5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

l these explanations of mitigating circumstances is stupid.

The issue is what did the bomb intend to do and what did it achieve, not whether he's a nice guy. Timothy McVeigh was a nice bloke till he did what he did right?

.

Coincidentally, the intent was not dissimilar to McVeigh's, albeit on a smaller scale.

The intent was evident in the materials used. Petrol and TNT.

The intent was to bomb a building that was the headquarters of a political party. A building with dozens of people.

.

A cooking gas cylinder, believed to be filled with petrol and reinforced with TNT, exploded late yesterday morning near Bhum Jai Thai's headquarters in Soi Phaholyothin 43, Bang Khen district.

A fruit vendor confessed that he was hired to park a pushcart carrying the 15 kilogram gas cylinder in front of the party's HQ.

The Nation

Published on June 23, 2010

That is for the court to decide. No one died, a wall was damaged. In comparison with McVeigh it is miles away. 5 to 10 is fair.

How much say for a bus company that sends out knowing the bus is faulty with a knackered driver?

[Buchholz]

.

Coincidentally, the intent was not dissimilar to McVeigh's, albeit on a smaller scale.

The intent was evident in the materials used. Petrol and TNT.

The intent was to bomb a building that was the headquarters of a political party. A building with dozens of people.

That is for the court to decide. No one died, a wall was damaged. In comparison with McVeigh it is miles away. 5 to 10 is fair.

How much say for a bus company that sends out knowing the bus is faulty with a knackered driver?

.

One court decided it was worth a lifetime incarceration.

More than a wall was damaged.

The only reason no one died was the incompetence of the Red Shirt Bomb Assemblers.

In comparison to McVeigh, it was, as said, the intent that was similar.

He didn't get 10, he got 5.

5 is, IMHO, an inappropriately short sentence for someone whose intent is to maim and kill, and who failed in that intent only because of ineptitude.

Still, Anek was performing the work akin to that of a drug mule, so let's see if the real drug bosses are punished more harshly.

Let's see if the drug bosses (or Red Shirt Bomb Masterminds in this case) are punished more severely.

I do have my doubts they will.

All this time since their indictment and no progress lends one to believe that, just like the Drug War, these drug bosses (Red Shirts) will suffer no consequences.

Let's get the main Red Shirted conspirators into court before they flee to Cambodia....again.

===================================================================

Posted 2010-09-17

Six indicted over June bomb attack

Public prosecutors yesterday indicted six people in connection with the failed bomb attack on the Bhum Jai Thai Party headquarters on June 22.

.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Buchholz