Couple sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for forest encroachment

[webfact]

Couple sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for forest encroachment



BANGKOK: -- Former immigration police chief of Samut Sakhon and his wife were sentenced to one year and six months and fined 375,000 baht each after they were found guilty by the Criminal Court of forest encroachment and illegal land holding in Ratchaburi’s Suan Poeng district on Tuesday.

The couple, Pol Col Kowit Muangnuan and Mrs Sudathip, were charged with encroaching over ten rai of forest land in Suan Poeng district and of illegally building a concrete weir across a stream.

The couple confessed to the charges and were initially sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined 750,000 baht each. The sentence was however halved due to their confession.

Earlier, Mrs Sudathip was given two years and six months jailterm for lese majeste.

(Photo : Thai PBS File)

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/couple-sentenced-to-18-months-imprisonment-for-forest-encroachment


-- Thai PBS 2015-03-03

[jdinasia]

How can you not like this news?

[Costas2008]

How can you not like this news?

Why? Cos it involves a top immigration officer?............Karma eh?

I like it also..............

[seajae]

wow, seems that they are finally really coming down/jailing these people but the fines are pretty pathetic, they should be seizing all their assets and selling them to compensate for all the damage and financial gains they have made.

[inzman]

I like to see these kind of punishments handed out. But I also realize the sad reality is that the sentence will never be carried out, bail then 20 years in appeal. How old are they?

[clockman]

Till we actualy see them in jail. Believe nothing. Remember the famous Chonbury godfather who went on the run for 10 years. And all the time he had being living at home.!

[ratcatcher]

Of course, they are far too important in the community to be shamed with their photos shown, or are there other publications where they can be seen?

Has the concrete weir been dismantled/demolished or was it actually of some benefit?

Has their encroachment been dismantled if of a physical nature with buildings etc? The fine is probably small change to these types. Still, all in all, a move in the right direction.

I wonder if we might get a 90 day report on their progress and conditions in jail?

[craigt3365]

wow, seems that they are finally really coming down/jailing these people but the fines are pretty pathetic, they should be seizing all their assets and selling them to compensate for all the damage and financial gains they have made.

I'm pretty sure that has happened, or is in the process. These guys were caught up in that mess with Pongpat.

[Wilsonandson]

illegally building a concrete weir across a stream.

A bridge?

[steveyinasia]

Of course, they are far too important in the community to be shamed with their photos shown, or are there other publications where they can be seen?

Has the concrete weir been dismantled/demolished or was it actually of some benefit?

Has their encroachment been dismantled if of a physical nature with buildings etc? The fine is probably small change to these types. Still, all in all, a move in the right direction.

I wonder if we might get a 90 day report on their progress and conditions in jail?

Exactly, just about every other person accused of a crime has the photo parade with several willing police used as the back drop, how come these people can hide? Evidence that the two rule system is still in place here, either show all face or show none.

[zyphodb]

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wow, seems that they are finally really coming down/jailing these people but the fines are pretty pathetic, they should be seizing all their assets and selling them to compensate for all the damage and financial gains they have made.

I'm pretty sure that has happened, or is in the process. These guys were caught up in that mess with Pongpat.

I'm sure your right Craig, they've only been nicked because of that...

[Lupatria]

First comment of the couple after the verdict: Thank God we didn't pick mushrooms!

[jdinasia]

illegally building a concrete weir across a stream.

A bridge?

A dam

[Jungle Jim]

They got off easy. Ten years and others might get it!

[weegee]

So when will they take back the wifes land stolen by next door neighbour who believes he cant be touched......And jail him too for a while.

Great to see this....

[harada]

I'd imagine the locals will be throwing down a few Lao Khoa's after this one, keep it coming General.

[cumgranosalum]

The army traditionally was involved in the "management" of forests in Thailand - especially those on the border. They have overseen logging, smuggling etc.

Immigration is of course a police division.

One really needs to look at the whole picture of prosecutions regarding encroachment - in particular in the WFC. it may turn out that there is a bias in who is actually being prosecuted under these regulations.

The army of course have said that they have just claims on large areas of forest in that region.

[Neeranam]

How can you not like this news?

Why? Cos it involves a top immigration officer?............Karma eh?

I like it also..............

The fact that you like this has a Karmic consequence. Obvious, you not a Buddhist so please quit talking about Karma, as though you were an expert on it.

[Neeranam]

wow, seems that they are finally really coming down/jailing these people but the fines are pretty pathetic, they should be seizing all their assets and selling them to compensate for all the damage and financial gains they have made.

It just tit for tat revenge. It happens every time the power changes. Those getting revenge now are no better than those they are avenging.

[ratcatcher]

So when will they take back the wifes land stolen by next door neighbour who believes he cant be touched......And jail him too for a while.

Great to see this....

What was the reaction of the authorities when your wife reported this theft of her land? Were there investigations and survey checks etc. "They" won't take it back, but if there is sufficient proof that your wife has been wronged, perhaps there is a chance , but then again, TIT.

BTW you never mentioned how much land has been seized by your neighbour.

[cumgranosalum]

illegally building a concrete weir across a stream.

A bridge?

A dam

Neither really......a weir is a barrier used to control the flow of a river or create a controlled level behind it - it allows water to flow over the top once that level has been achieved.

the problems with weirs can be that they change/impede the flow of water, altering the environment of the stream/river and interfere with the natural migration of fish and other marine life. It may even have been used for fish farming which can be incredibly damaging to the environment.

[cumgranosalum]

That area of the country is still un-surveyed for the most part and there are loads of buildings and patches of land changing hands without proper documentation - seems strange they picked on just these?

[Seastallion]

wow, seems that they are finally really coming down/jailing these people but the fines are pretty pathetic, they should be seizing all their assets and selling them to compensate for all the damage and financial gains they have made.

I was thinking the same, that it's good to see high-ish officials being convicted.....but then I read that the wife had been convicted of LM; Obviously they're no longer in favour, no matter what rank. I suspect if there had been no LM case, we wouldn't be reading about this conviction.

[weegee]

So when will they take back the wifes land stolen by next door neighbour who believes he cant be touched......And jail him too for a while.

Great to see this....

What was the reaction of the authorities when your wife reported this theft of her land? Were there investigations and survey checks etc. "They" won't take it back, but if there is sufficient proof that your wife has been wronged, perhaps there is a chance , but then again, TIT.

BTW you never mentioned how much land has been seized by your neighbour.

No one around here will standup and be counted for what this neighbour does.....(They like living).

Me , i am only a guest in this country, so have to stay out of it....

Rotten part this guy took Government land also , which was originally donated to the community (by wifes family) for the building of a Temple....so there you have it....untouchable!!!!

[cumgranosalum]

wow, seems that they are finally really coming down/jailing these people but the fines are pretty pathetic, they should be seizing all their assets and selling them to compensate for all the damage and financial gains they have made.

I think this is a very naive interpretation of what is happening. Look into the background of the case, look at the map and then look at how much land the army "owns or controls" in that area and I think you'lll come to a very different appraisal of what is actually happening there.

[HooHaa]

this is not non-patrisan law enforcement. there is always an agenda.

you are deluded if you believe otherwise

Edited March 4, 2015 by HooHaa

[halloween]

wow, seems that they are finally really coming down/jailing these people but the fines are pretty pathetic, they should be seizing all their assets and selling them to compensate for all the damage and financial gains they have made.

I think this is a very naive interpretation of what is happening. Look into the background of the case, look at the map and then look at how much land the army "owns or controls" in that area and I think you'lll come to a very different appraisal of what is actually happening there.

Does "naive interpretetation" mean he doesn't buy your conspiracy theory? Have you any proof that these people are actually innocent, or are you claiming that the bias of those pressing charges is more important than the crime?

[chooka]

How can you not like this news?

It's good news but it is only 2 out of how many? Is it that he served under the Shin administration?

[soundman]

Posts escalating an argument over the definition of an object have been removed from view because they are distracting everyone else from the topic.

[joesanunu]

Till we actualy see them in jail. Believe nothing. Remember the famous Chonbury godfather who went on the run for 10 years. And all the time he had being living at home.!

Somethings wrong.

The murderer is still living at his family compound with the Pattaya Mayor and his other relatives in government, protecting him from his court ordered jail term.

Double standards.

And what about the Army General that was caught with a house in the national forest? How much time in jail did he get? O. You say he never went to court........A huh....just a mistake..allright... Thats right, He is on the Privy Council.Untouchable..

We can still lock up the enemies of the Army though....