Court sentences former Ratchaburi MP two years in prison

[webfact]

Court sentences former Ratchaburi MP two years in prison



BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court today sentenced former Ratchaburi MP Chawarin Latthasaksiri to two years imprisonment after finding him guilty of frauds.

Chawarin, a former member of the Thai Rak Thai party, faced charge of cheating after placing advertisement on several local newspapers persuading the people to place purchase order for the self-claimed divine “Jatukam Ramathep” talisman which he claimed to have passed sacred religious rites at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and at the City Pillar Shrine during May 1-June 30, 2007.

The court said it has looked through all evidence and testimonies from witnesses, and found he had cheated the people in selling the talismans.

The court first sentenced him to three years in prison but commuted the sentence by one-third to two years with no suspension.

But a call for the refund of the cheated money was rejected as the former MP was found to have refunded all those who placed the purchase orders.

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/court-sentences-former-ratchaburi-mp-two-years-prison/


-- Thai PBS 2013-12-20

[whybother]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Guilty. Sentenced to jail. Temporary release????????????????

[webfact]

Chaovarin convicted of cheating

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court Friday convicted Chaovarin Lathasaksiri of cheating, giving him a 2-year imprisonment term.

The former Pheu Thai party list MP during May 1-June 30, 2007 launched a campaign to sell Jatukam amulets. He told the buyers of the incantation at the Emerald Buddha Temple and the City Shrine, which was proved untrue.

Thanks to his confession, the imprisonment term was reduced from 3 years.

No probation is granted.


-- The Nation 2013-12-20

[bigbamboo]

Obviously no money left then........ except for an air fare and a few backhanders to help him on his way.

[PeterSmiles]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for never ending temporary release.

[siampolee]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Yet another fine example of judicial dual standards due to social status

[edwardandtubs]

Only poor people go to jail in Thailand.

[55Jay]

As opposed to genuine talismans and amulets?

[Gone]

On a positive note at least the cheated all got their loot back.

[Robby nz]

And an elderly poor couple got 15 years for gathering mushrooms in a national park, and got locked up, no money for bail.

[worgeordie]

And a policeman got 800 years ! for stealing a few bob out of the kitty ,

also the toll collector 34 years ,for not a lot of money.

regards worgeordie, this one will never go to prison,has to appeal

to the supreme court and that will be spun out, he will die first.

[JoeThePoster]

divine “Jatukam Ramathep” talisman

Which one is it in that pic?

[kimamey]

And an elderly poor couple got 15 years for gathering mushrooms in a national park, and got locked up, no money for bail.

I didn't know about that but it certainly seems to show double standards.

I know it will take a long time to change this but I'd be interested to know what, if anything has been done by any government to try to get rid of this inequality. The present government made this one of their promises either before or after the last election.

[Loles]

This man looks like with his bazaar on his chest like a second world war Russian veteran in Red square by a Red Army celebration

[siampolee]

To be fair Loles those old Russian second war veterans earnt their medal ribbons in no uncertain fashion. They were not bought by the yard at some material emporium in Boe Bae Market here in Bangkok.

[kingalfred]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Guilty. Sentenced to jail. Temporary release????????????????

of course this guy will serve very little time in prison in an "endemic corrupt political and legal system"

[Emptyset]

And an elderly poor couple got 15 years for gathering mushrooms in a national park, and got locked up, no money for bail.

I didn't know about that but it certainly seems to show double standards.

I know it will take a long time to change this but I'd be interested to know what, if anything has been done by any government to try to get rid of this inequality. The present government made this one of their promises either before or after the last election.

'Kalasin, known for its dinosaurs, extrajudicial killings, and presently for the 15 year prison

sentence of a husband and wife who, it seems, are on the wrong side of justice.

Udom Siri-on (51) and his wife Daeng Siri-on (48) were recently convicted of illegal logging, though they say they were only collecting mushrooms in a Kalasin National Park.

It was reported that the couple had been picking wild mushrooms when police were involved in an operation to arrest illegal loggers. When they saw the police the husband and wife fled on a motorbike, but after police traced the bike the couple were arrested and later charged with the offense of illegal logging.

Their case became known to the public when Channel 3 news programme Khao Sam Miti aired a story of the obscene sentence, and subsequently campaigns began online in support of the couple. The general feeling towards the case is what many Thai netizens are saying is another example of double standards. One poster on Panthip.com wrote, “only dogs and the poor go to jail.”

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=2874

[Maha Sarakham Marty]

The poster child of Thai Rak Thai.

The so-called A-Team of Thaksin regimes.

The best sleaze Thailand has to offer.

[edwinchester]

This man looks like with his bazaar on his chest like a second world war Russian veteran in Red square by a Red Army celebration

I think they get one medal for turning up for the portrait photo, another for saluting with the correct arm etc.....that sort of leadership qualities soon adds up to a fine collection.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[aussieinthailand]

If this guy is guilty (not politically motivated) as charged then regardless of political affiliation, let justice be served... The scale's of justice should weigh equally for all, fair?

[aussieinthailand]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Yet another fine example of judicial dual standards due to social status

siampolee,

NO my friend, your wrong!!! and your right!!!

It's not "judicial dual standards" Bail is afforded to many offenders in Thailand, just the difference is the size of your wallet and the level of your connections to the level of your freedom...

[Ulic]

I am shocked he was found guilty.

[Lite Beer]

Former Pheu Thai MP Chaovarin gets 2-year jail term for fraud
By English News

BANGKOK: -- BANGKOK, Dec 20 – Thailand’s Criminal Court on Friday sentenced former Pheu Thai member of parliament Chaovarin Latthasaksiri, 65, to two years in jail without parole for fraud related to selling "Jatukam Ramathep" talismen.

Mr Chaovarin, an outspoken ruling party politician from Ratchaburi, was released after the Court accepted Bt200,000 cash as collateral for bail bond, pending the process to appeal the verdict.

The former lawmaker was found guilty of publishing an advertisement in several newspapers during May 1-June 30, 2007, soliciting the general public to buy “Jatukam Ramathep” talismen which he claimed to have passed sacred religious rites at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew, a royal chapel) and at the City Pillar Shrine (Lak Mueang)in the capital.

The court considered evidence and testimonies from witnesses, and found that his claim was untrue as he never asked the Royal Household Bureau for permission to hold religious rites for the “Jatukam Ramathep” talisman.

He received permission from the Royal Household Bureau to use the Temple of the Emerald Buddha for another purpose.

The Court initially sentenced him to three-year imprisonment but commuted the jail term by one-third to two years with no suspension.

Mr Chaovarin presided over the making of 40,000 reproductions of the talisman and offered to public for Bt199 each (about US$6). (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-12-20

[BuddyPinkham]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Guilty. Sentenced to jail. Temporary release????????????????

As an attorney, I will never understand Thai law. If you are convicted, found guilty, sentenced to a jail term and THEN only held temporarily for release on bail? Isn't that the wrong way? Convicted, then bail, then jail once found guilty. TiT

[tomacht8]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Guilty. Sentenced to jail. Temporary release????????????????

As an attorney, I will never understand Thai law. If you are convicted, found guilty, sentenced to a jail term and THEN only held temporarily for release on bail? Isn't that the wrong way? Convicted, then bail, then jail once found guilty. TiT

Yes there bail system is in many cases not understandable.

Especially in cases where the offender has confessed in the first instance, to get a soft sentence

For example, the verdict comes as 2 years in jail.

Then he can go against the judgment in appeal.

And then he is free again on granted bail.

Crazy, coz the offender has confessed.

Normally, the minimum penalty must provided, written in the Criminal Code, for an offense to be served.

The already dismounted jail time would then be transferred to the new judgment.

But here they let the self-confessed criminals run free again, until the final judgment is spoken.

So if you have enough money you can go here by all instances, even if you have confessed in the first instance!

This happens here in many cases also with self-confessed murderers!

A very sad case of this bail system was the killer cop from Pai,

who first shoot a tourist dead in a bar with many Eyewitnesses.

The court released him on bail!

Later on, - free on bail - he kills then his wife.

Edited December 20, 2013 by tomacht8

[whybother]

If this guy is guilty (not politically motivated) as charged then regardless of political affiliation, let justice be served... The scale's of justice should weigh equally for all, fair?

If? He has been found guilty and sentenced to 2 years jail.

Sent from my phone ...

[Sirius1935]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Guilty. Sentenced to jail. Temporary release????????????????

As an attorney, I will never understand Thai law. If you are convicted, found guilty, sentenced to a jail term and THEN only held temporarily for release on bail? Isn't that the wrong way? Convicted, then bail, then jail once found guilty. TiT

I have a friend who is a professor at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai. I once asked him what language they teach in as I had met several student from that university who couldn't count from 1 to 5 in English let alone carry on a converstion. He told me that all faculties lectured only in English except Law. He said you couldn't explain Thai Law in the english language, that would be impossible.

[BuddyPinkham]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Guilty. Sentenced to jail. Temporary release????????????????

As an attorney, I will never understand Thai law. If you are convicted, found guilty, sentenced to a jail term and THEN only held temporarily for release on bail? Isn't that the wrong way? Convicted, then bail, then jail once found guilty. TiT

Yes there bail system is in many cases not understandable.

Especially in cases where the offender has confessed in the first instance, to get a soft sentence

For example, the verdict comes as 2 years in jail.

Then he can go against the judgment in appeal.

And then he is free again on granted bail.

Crazy, coz the offender has confessed.

Normally, the minimum penalty must provided, written in the Criminal Code, for an offense to be served.

The already dismounted jail time would then be transferred to the new judgment.

But here they let the self-confessed criminals run free again, until the final judgment is spoken.

So if you have enough money you can go here by all instances, even if you have confessed in the first instance!

This happens here in many cases also with self-confessed murderers!

A very sad case of this bail system was the killer cop from Pai,

who first shoot a tourist dead in a bar with many Eyewitnesses.

The court released him on bail!

Later on, - free on bail - he kills then his wife.

YEAH! It gives them time to run and get out of the country so they don't have to serve his sentence. There are foreigners in Thai jail that have been there for 8 years, have never been indicted, no trail but just left there to rot! OI!

[oldsailor35]

As opposed to genuine talismans and amulets?

Thailand for sure .

[oldsailor35]

The former outspoken MP of Thai Rak Thai party was later escorted to the detention area of the court pending bail for temporary release.

Guilty. Sentenced to jail. Temporary release????????????????

As an attorney, I will never understand Thai law. If you are convicted, found guilty, sentenced to a jail term and THEN only held temporarily for release on bail? Isn't that the wrong way? Convicted, then bail, then jail once found guilty. TiT

I have a friend who is a professor at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai. I once asked him what language they teach in as I had met several student from that university who couldn't count from 1 to 5 in English let alone carry on a converstion. He told me that all faculties lectured only in English except Law. He said you couldn't explain Thai Law in the english language, that would be impossible.

Amazing. no wonder Abisit is so useless