Senior official gets death over activist's murder
Sontanaporn Inchan
Wasu Vipoosanapat
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE CHACHOENGSAO provincial court yesterday sentenced a senior Department of Industrial Works (DIW) official to death for murdering Chachoengsao environmental activist Prajob Naowa-opas last year.

The court found Phuthon Kavipan, a C-8 official of DIW and owner of Fusion Development Co, guilty of masterminding the murder as well as criminal conspiracy.

The hearing attracted more than 100 of villagers in Phanom Sarakham district's tambon Nong Nae, where Prajob was village head.

Two other defendants - Air Force Sergeant Yutthanai Najaeng, who drove the getaway vehicle, |and Air Force Sergeant Anu Boonpeng, who confessed to pulling the trigger - were sentenced to life in prison.

Jon Noawa-opas, the victim's brother, said his family planned to appeal against Yutthanai's sentence, saying he too should be sentenced to death as he had denied wrongdoings during investigation and the trial.

Victim's pre-murder roles

Prajob Naowa-opas, 41, was shot dead on February 25, 2013 at an automobile garage in the district. He was the headman of Moo 14 in tambon Nong Nae and core leader of the protest against Fusion Development Co, which dumped toxic industrial waste in the area in 2007 and polluted the air and river. Locals claimed that this pollution cut down on their agricultural produce.

In Nong Nae village, industrial waste is disposed in nine sites by other companies, but only a third of them are legal. Chachoengsao province has about 11 toxic-waste disposal sites and some com-panies have released cancer-|causing substances into a natural reservoir, which provides drinking water.

Penchom Saetang, the director of non-profit Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand (Earth), said the case proved that officials had a hand in the corruption.

She said related government bodies in charge of eco-protection should be restructured in order to ensure that they have greater accountability and transparency. Local residents also have to be allowed to inspect their work.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Senior-official-gets-death-over-activists-murder-30250607.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-25

The 3 defendants are out on bail and all will appeal, aren't they? Expect a final verdict in about 15 years

Air Force personal get life in prison?

Khun Chavoret Jaruboon, Thailand's Last executioner, had died on April 29, 2012. Anyone replace him to carry this out?

So this guy gets the death penalty, but the guy who pulled the trigger doesn't?

the leaders of the western world, china, japan, and the rest of asia are in danger of whip-lash (shaking head syndrome) .

So military hitmen ??

"Two other defendants - Air Force Sergeant Yutthanai Najaeng, who drove the getaway vehicle, |and Air Force Sergeant Anu Boonpeng, who confessed to pulling the trigger - were sentenced to life in prison."

The police are going to be pissed at their action being cut into.....

Edited December 25, 201411 yr by EyesWideOpen

Would of expected they are moved to inactive posts,may still happen of course.

The 3 defendants are out on bail and all will appeal, aren't they? Expect a final verdict in about 15 years

I have to agree you see this kind of bail for serious offences quite often. Its crazy though on the other hand as long as you can appeal should you be in jail. Just imagine if your put in jail innocent and have to wait out all your appeals in jail.

Two sides to the medal though in most cases bail is really abused.

the leaders of the western world, china, japan, and the rest of asia are in danger of whip-lash (shaking head syndrome) .

actually, china kills off many, many, people who taint the countrys image. like the guys who put the plastic in the milk? their dead. the guys who cut corners on building permits and the building collapsed? their dead. and countless politicians are in jail for such petty things all the way to big ones. THAIS (the politicians) should be very, very affraid to be like china.

Surely the fearless leader would be better spending a bit of his time addressing the issues of toxic waste and cancer causing toxins being dumped into drinking water sources than pissballing about with motorbike taxi driver vests?

Look, he's out on bail already, no real justice here.

Khun Chavoret Jaruboon, Thailand's Last executioner, had died on April 29, 2012. Anyone replace him to carry this out?

I will volunteer.

The 3 defendants are out on bail and all will appeal, aren't they? Expect a final verdict in about 15 years

I have to agree you see this kind of bail for serious offences quite often. Its crazy though on the other hand as long as you can appeal should you be in jail. Just imagine if your put in jail innocent and have to wait out all your appeals in jail.

Two sides to the medal though in most cases bail is really abused.

Boy guys you must be reading something I can't see. I think you are not telling the truth about the bail; is that libel or slander, I get them mixed up. But maybe I'm wrong. Show me a link and I'll certainly apologize.

The 3 defendants are out on bail and all will appeal, aren't they? Expect a final verdict in about 15 years

I have to agree you see this kind of bail for serious offences quite often. Its crazy though on the other hand as long as you can appeal should you be in jail. Just imagine if your put in jail innocent and have to wait out all your appeals in jail.

Two sides to the medal though in most cases bail is really abused.

Boy guys you must be reading something I can't see. I think you are not telling the truth about the bail; is that libel or slander, I get them mixed up. But maybe I'm wrong. Show me a link and I'll certainly apologize.

I don't see they are out on bail this time. Though they have appealed, they could be out on bail it does not say it. So your right.

Look, he's out on bail already, no real justice here.

Where, in the post, does it mention anyone being granted bail?

THANKS to the 100 Villagers, or you would not be reading ANY of this!!!!!

AND--- nothing would be done-- my opinion.

the leaders of the western world, china, japan, and the rest of asia are in danger of whip-lash (shaking head syndrome) .

actually, china kills off many, many, people who taint the countrys image. like the guys who put the plastic in the milk? their dead. the guys who cut corners on building permits and the building collapsed? their dead. and countless politicians are in jail for such petty things all the way to big ones. THAIS (the politicians) should be very, very affraid to be like china.

The P.R.C. holds People, both either in Political or Business Authority, accountable for their actions. I believe it goes far beyond tainting the Countries image. Those that violate their Authority are in direct confrontation with the very principles of the State. The end result, a short walk to the firing squad area. I don't have any problem with that at all. Unfortunately, not all those involved get the message while they are violating the Public Trust, and only learn the hard way, when their wrists are tied behind the stake. Good for the P.R.C., continue to take the garbage out!

Look, he's out on bail already, no real justice here.

Link it. I think you are not telling the truth. I think you are trying to start a harmful rumor.

I assume the poster above meant to say he ASSUMED these guys would be out on bail, considering how common it is here for convicted murderers to be released on bail post-conviction. But the news report doesn't actually say anything on that subject.

As for the death sentence, I wouldn't be sitting here holding my breath waiting for it to happen. About a 100 different things could happen between now and the imposition of that sentence that would see it never come to pass. And the guy sentenced to death here isn't exactly some petty street criminal.

I assume the poster above meant to say he ASSUMED these guys would be out on bail, considering how common it is here for convicted murderers to be released on bail post-conviction. But the news report doesn't actually say anything on that subject.

As for the death sentence, I wouldn't be sitting here holding my breath waiting for it to happen. About a 100 different things could happen between now and the imposition of that sentence that would see it never come to pass. And the guy sentenced to death here isn't exactly some petty street criminal.

The poster wrote

inzman, on 25 Dec 2014 - 18:18, said: "Look, he's out on bail already, no real justice here."

Why would you assume anything. He is trying to start a false rumor. He wrote what he wrote. Easy for anyone to see.