Two men sentenced for Bangkok courthouse blast

[webfact]

Two men sentenced for Bangkok courthouse blast
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Two Thai men were handed five-month jail sentences Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a grenade attack outside a criminal court in Bangkok this month.

Thai authorities said Mahahin Khunthong and Yutthana Yenpinyo, both 34, drove up to the entrance of the capital's main criminal court and threw an RGD-5 grenade into the car park on the evening of March 7.

No one was injured in the attack, which the pair admitted carrying out, the court said.

The attack was the second small blast to hit Bangkok in as many months after twin pipe bombs detonated outside a busy shopping mall in early February, wounding two people.

Thailand's military rulers -- who installed martial law in May and seized power in a coup -- have blamed both attacks on activists linked to the "Red Shirt" movement loyal to ousted premiers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra, something the group has vehemently denied.

Shortly after the first bombing Thailand's junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha spoke out against widespread rumours on social media that the military were behind the blasts to reinforce the need for martial law.

Pressure has been mounting on the junta to lift the controversial restrictions, with an increasing number of opponents saying debate is being stifled just as Thailand needs it most.

National police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri told AFP Tuesday a total of 14 people have been arrested over both blasts while three more were wanted for questioning.

The most recent arrest was of Natthatida Meewangpla -- a 37-year-old nurse who had been missing since March 11, when relatives said she was taken away by soldiers without explanation.

"She has been charged with terrorism, collaborating in trying to kill and weapon possession," Prawut said.

Initially Thailand's junta denied holding the nurse, a prominent witness to a bloody 2010 crackdown by the military against Red Shirt protesters in which at least 90 were killed, including a nurse and two foreign journalists.

But on Tuesday she was publicly handed over by the military to the police.

Footage broadcast on local news channels showed the pink-haired nurse flashing the three-fingered salute from the Hunger Games movies -- a symbol of resistance adopted by critics of the junta.

Public Red Shirt resistance to the coup has been muted, with leaders under observation by the military and warned against organising political rallies.

Thailand has been blighted by nearly a decade of political turmoil since billionaire former premier Thaksin shook up the establishment by winning elections with his populist politics.

Parties led by him or his allies have won every election since 2001.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-03-17

[MrJohnson]

This sentence is an outrage. Five months! How about ten years. The potential for personal injury was enormous, not to mention the need for a deterrent. An interesting contrast to the sentences handed out for L.M. Extraordinary!

[transam]

Five months.....................

[issanaus]

This sentence is an outrage. Five months! How about ten years. The potential for personal injury was enormous, not to mention the need for a deterrent. An interesting contrast to the sentences handed out for L.M. Extraordinary!

The charges and sentence may be a reflection for the cooperation of the 2 convicted.

[Klong Song]

Sentenced already? Some people get sentenced quickly and some people don't.

[smedly]

This sentence is an outrage. Five months! How about ten years. The potential for personal injury was enormous, not to mention the need for a deterrent. An interesting contrast to the sentences handed out for L.M. Extraordinary!

The charges and sentence may be a reflection for the cooperation of the 2 convicted.

I believe you are correct, I hope they are in isolation and when released are able to hide somewhere

[z42]

Disgusting sentence considering people have been shot in the past for merely having drugs in their possession. How terrorism related offences don't even merit years in jail is a sick joke that will do nothing to deter others who try and stir up trouble through violence in future.

[Cuchulainn]

Not long enough by far. Shame!!!

[than]

This sentence is an outrage. Five months! How about ten years. The potential for personal injury was enormous, not to mention the need for a deterrent. An interesting contrast to the sentences handed out for L.M. Extraordinary!

It's just the first trial, trial for other charge will be soon....

[transam]

Sentenced already? Some people get sentenced quickly and some people don't.

Cash flow..............

[JOC]

If anyone ever doubted it before:

The "juridical" system in Thailand is a lottery and a joke!!

[seajae]

and we see the nurse that "disappeared" has been charged with terrorism, guess we know now why she was taken away, cant wait to see all those accusing the govt of trying to silence her pull their feet out of their mouths, well boys, any of you have the balls to admit you were wrong, doubt it.

[rubl]

If anyone ever doubted it before:

The "juridical" system in Thailand is a lottery and a joke!!

Pray explain yourself.

Do you see those accused and sentenced as randomly selected, like you pick out a lottery ticket? Are you complaining about the mere five months sentence? What are you implying or suggesting?

[AleG]

Sentenced already? Some people get sentenced quickly and some people don't.

Bombing the courts is an easy way to get yourself in the fast lane for a sentence.

The five months are for that action alone, other cases will come later.

[LuckyLew]

if they have already been sentenced and only got 5 months it is pretty easy to assume they ratted a few others out

[AleG]

if they have already been sentenced and only got 5 months it is pretty easy to assume they ratted a few others out

Again, the five month sentence is only for the contempt of court charge, throwing a grenade at the court is a very cut and dried case, so expedite sentence.

They have other, much more serious charges, pending.

[Basil B]

The sentence may reflect the fact that they threw the grenade where there was little possibility of injuries.

The may have also have "Turned King's Evidence"...

[bkkcanuck8]

if they have already been sentenced and only got 5 months it is pretty easy to assume they ratted a few others out

It makes it more certain that they were "friends" and it was a setup. I did not give much weight to the suggestions that it was, but the speed and lightness of the sentence after the incident makes me think.... they are being treated with kid gloves.... possibly for a reason. Sentencing a terrorist to 5 months..... just does not make sense.

[chooka]

5 months hardly worth the effort, best to go after the real criminals, those picking mushrooms, you get 10+ years if caught with a mushroom to feed your family.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Unless I'm missing something, the OP article talks about a court handing down the sentence, but it doesn't say WHAT court...

Civilian court, martial law military court? Not even any mention of what location of the court. We live in strange times.

I don't think I've ever seen a court case filed and proceed to sentencing even remotely so fast as this one.

[tbthailand]

well that conviction was done at the speed of light.

reminds me of recent LM cases...

I'm sure that due process was followed ... diligently.

[halloween]

if they have already been sentenced and only got 5 months it is pretty easy to assume they ratted a few others out

It makes it more certain that they were "friends" and it was a setup. I did not give much weight to the suggestions that it was, but the speed and lightness of the sentence after the incident makes me think.... they are being treated with kid gloves.... possibly for a reason. Sentencing a terrorist to 5 months..... just does not make sense.

Do you shoot your "friends" 4 times?

[bkkcanuck8]

if they have already been sentenced and only got 5 months it is pretty easy to assume they ratted a few others out

It makes it more certain that they were "friends" and it was a setup. I did not give much weight to the suggestions that it was, but the speed and lightness of the sentence after the incident makes me think.... they are being treated with kid gloves.... possibly for a reason. Sentencing a terrorist to 5 months..... just does not make sense.

Do you shoot your "friends" 4 times?

Maybe you can expand on that because all I have heard about the 2 people that were sentenced to 5 months are:

- Grenade attack on courthouse

- very quickly apprehended for said actions

- almost immediately rolled over on "the big guys"

-- if I were a terrorist I think I could hold out for longer than that....

-- if I were hiring "terrorists" and had the resources, I would not do it directly so it were easily traced back to me (which is part of the problem in tracing random acts back to their original masters.

- they are then quickly sentenced to 5 months (I would expect sentences for terrorist acts to be sentenced to 20 years less maybe 10 to 15 years for confessing and rolling over on others and providing real evidence.

So when I see someone take the fall and only get sentenced to 5 months -- I get very suspicious that there may be more going on..... There is no way I would ever let anyone involved with terrorism off with such a light sentence - hired guns or not... the act of terrorism could have killed someone and done real damage.... and I would make an example of them to the full extent I could.

[halloween]

It makes it more certain that they were "friends" and it was a setup. I did not give much weight to the suggestions that it was, but the speed and lightness of the sentence after the incident makes me think.... they are being treated with kid gloves.... possibly for a reason. Sentencing a terrorist to 5 months..... just does not make sense.

Do you shoot your "friends" 4 times?

Maybe you can expand on that because all I have heard about the 2 people that were sentenced to 5 months are:

- Grenade attack on courthouse

- very quickly apprehended for said actions

- almost immediately rolled over on "the big guys"

-- if I were a terrorist I think I could hold out for longer than that....

-- if I were hiring "terrorists" and had the resources, I would not do it directly so it were easily traced back to me (which is part of the problem in tracing random acts back to their original masters.

- they are then quickly sentenced to 5 months (I would expect sentences for terrorist acts to be sentenced to 20 years less maybe 10 to 15 years for confessing and rolling over on others and providing real evidence.

So when I see someone take the fall and only get sentenced to 5 months -- I get very suspicious that there may be more going on..... There is no way I would ever let anyone involved with terrorism off with such a light sentence - hired guns or not... the act of terrorism could have killed someone and done real damage.... and I would make an example of them to the full extent I could.

Perhaps a little research will overcome your abysmal ignorance. During the arrest, there was a gunfight, both were knocked from their motorcycle by a police(?) car, and one was shot 4 times. Is this how you treat your friends? Perhaps it was all faked, a giant conspiracy involving RTA, BIB and hospital staff?

Or are you speculating without knowledge?

BTW the offenders have stated that they did it for the money.

Edited March 17, 2015 by halloween

[bkkcanuck8]

It makes it more certain that they were "friends" and it was a setup. I did not give much weight to the suggestions that it was, but the speed and lightness of the sentence after the incident makes me think.... they are being treated with kid gloves.... possibly for a reason. Sentencing a terrorist to 5 months..... just does not make sense.

Do you shoot your "friends" 4 times?

Maybe you can expand on that because all I have heard about the 2 people that were sentenced to 5 months are:

- Grenade attack on courthouse

- very quickly apprehended for said actions

- almost immediately rolled over on "the big guys"

-- if I were a terrorist I think I could hold out for longer than that....

-- if I were hiring "terrorists" and had the resources, I would not do it directly so it were easily traced back to me (which is part of the problem in tracing random acts back to their original masters.

- they are then quickly sentenced to 5 months (I would expect sentences for terrorist acts to be sentenced to 20 years less maybe 10 to 15 years for confessing and rolling over on others and providing real evidence.

So when I see someone take the fall and only get sentenced to 5 months -- I get very suspicious that there may be more going on..... There is no way I would ever let anyone involved with terrorism off with such a light sentence - hired guns or not... the act of terrorism could have killed someone and done real damage.... and I would make an example of them to the full extent I could.

Perhaps a little research will overcome your abysmal ignorance. During the arrest, there was a gunfight, both were knocked from their motorcycle by a police(?) car, and one was shot 4 times. Is this how you treat your friends? Perhaps it was all faked, a giant conspiracy involving RTA, BIB and hospital staff?

Or are you speculating without knowledge?

BTW the offenders have stated that they did it for the money.

So lets see they did it for the money (same as hitmen do), they throw grenades, they shot at police/military and they get 5 months? Never thought of the general as being a panzy.... I am speculating because 5 months does not make sense. Insurrection in Thailand is punishable by death, anything less is being lenient.... many people in prison in Thailand for more than 5 months for doing relatively little in comparison.

[bkkcanuck8]

It makes it more certain that they were "friends" and it was a setup. I did not give much weight to the suggestions that it was, but the speed and lightness of the sentence after the incident makes me think.... they are being treated with kid gloves.... possibly for a reason. Sentencing a terrorist to 5 months..... just does not make sense.

Do you shoot your "friends" 4 times?

Maybe you can expand on that because all I have heard about the 2 people that were sentenced to 5 months are:

- Grenade attack on courthouse

- very quickly apprehended for said actions

- almost immediately rolled over on "the big guys"

-- if I were a terrorist I think I could hold out for longer than that....

-- if I were hiring "terrorists" and had the resources, I would not do it directly so it were easily traced back to me (which is part of the problem in tracing random acts back to their original masters.

- they are then quickly sentenced to 5 months (I would expect sentences for terrorist acts to be sentenced to 20 years less maybe 10 to 15 years for confessing and rolling over on others and providing real evidence.

So when I see someone take the fall and only get sentenced to 5 months -- I get very suspicious that there may be more going on..... There is no way I would ever let anyone involved with terrorism off with such a light sentence - hired guns or not... the act of terrorism could have killed someone and done real damage.... and I would make an example of them to the full extent I could.

Perhaps a little research will overcome your abysmal ignorance. During the arrest, there was a gunfight, both were knocked from their motorcycle by a police(?) car, and one was shot 4 times. Is this how you treat your friends? Perhaps it was all faked, a giant conspiracy involving RTA, BIB and hospital staff?

Or are you speculating without knowledge?

BTW the offenders have stated that they did it for the money.

So lets see they did it for the money (same as hitmen do), they throw grenades, they shot at police/military and they get 5 months? Never thought of the general as being a panzy.... I am speculating because 5 months does not make sense. Insurrection in Thailand is punishable by death, anything less is being lenient.... many people in prison in Thailand for more than 5 months for doing relatively little in comparison.

[ldiablo]

Why is it that tue common Thai gets convicted in under a month but the rich can drag their cases on for years. No different than any other country I suppose.

[rubl]

Perhaps a little research will overcome your abysmal ignorance. During the arrest, there was a gunfight, both were knocked from their motorcycle by a police(?) car, and one was shot 4 times. Is this how you treat your friends? Perhaps it was all faked, a giant conspiracy involving RTA, BIB and hospital staff?

Or are you speculating without knowledge?

BTW the offenders have stated that they did it for the money.

So lets see they did it for the money (same as hitmen do), they throw grenades, they shot at police/military and they get 5 months? Never thought of the general as being a panzy.... I am speculating because 5 months does not make sense. Insurrection in Thailand is punishable by death, anything less is being lenient.... many people in prison in Thailand for more than 5 months for doing relatively little in comparison.

The topic with the AFP article starts with

"Two Thai men were handed five-month jail sentences Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a grenade attack outside a criminal court in Bangkok this month."

Assuming no one gets sentenced for 'alleged involvement' some details seem missing in the article.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

But 30 years for picking mushrooms at a national park? Unbelievable!!!

Might as well just tell everyone to go blow up kill and kill anyone you want. 5 months in jail? You wouldn't have to pay many desperate people too much money here to get them to do your dirty work for you knowing the penalty is so lenient. RIDICULOUS !!!

[Baerboxer]

if they have already been sentenced and only got 5 months it is pretty easy to assume they ratted a few others out

It makes it more certain that they were "friends" and it was a setup. I did not give much weight to the suggestions that it was, but the speed and lightness of the sentence after the incident makes me think.... they are being treated with kid gloves.... possibly for a reason. Sentencing a terrorist to 5 months..... just does not make sense.

Do you shoot your "friends" 4 times?

Maybe you can expand on that because all I have heard about the 2 people that were sentenced to 5 months are:

- Grenade attack on courthouse

- very quickly apprehended for said actions

- almost immediately rolled over on "the big guys"

-- if I were a terrorist I think I could hold out for longer than that....

-- if I were hiring "terrorists" and had the resources, I would not do it directly so it were easily traced back to me (which is part of the problem in tracing random acts back to their original masters.

- they are then quickly sentenced to 5 months (I would expect sentences for terrorist acts to be sentenced to 20 years less maybe 10 to 15 years for confessing and rolling over on others and providing real evidence.

So when I see someone take the fall and only get sentenced to 5 months -- I get very suspicious that there may be more going on..... There is no way I would ever let anyone involved with terrorism off with such a light sentence - hired guns or not... the act of terrorism could have killed someone and done real damage.... and I would make an example of them to the full extent I could.

If, if, if. Maybe if you were the sought of person who was stupid enough to do something like this for a few thousand baht, got caught and injured, and knew you'd likely get no support or help from those who hired you, would you keep quiet and take the punishment or rat on your former paymasters and hope for leniency?

I think, if you read, you might find that this is the sentence for contempt of court and that more serious charges are yet to be faced.