Supreme Court acquits five police officers of charges in missing human rights lawyer case

[webfact]

Supreme Court acquits five police officers of charges in missing human rights lawyer case



BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court today freed all five police officers charged with robbery and abduction of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit ending over a decade long court trial.

The ruling of the highest court was read in front of Somchai’s widow Mrs Angkhana Neelapaijit at the Criminal Court in Bangkok.

The five police defendants were accused of the abduction of Somchai on March 12, 2004. Since then he was not accounted for.

The abduction happened while Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont was commissioner of the Royal Thai Police and fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra ruled the country.

At today’s final ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the verdict of the appeals Court which had acquitted the five officers of all the charges.

Reasons given by the Supreme Court were that Somchai’s family could not act as a co-plaintiff and there was no evidence showing that Somchai had been dead or seriously injured.

The human lawyer went missing since he was forcibly taken away by these officers since on March 12, 2004. The five officers were seen forcing him into a car on Ramkhamhaeng road in Bangkok.

He was then defending people allegedly tortured by police during an investigation. Until today he was still not accounted for.

Thaksin had indicated to the media while he was in power that the lawyer was dead. He later denied it.

Mrs Angkhana said before today’s verdict whether the ruling was positive or negative, she would accept it.

However if it turned out to be negative, she would study the ruling thoroughly to push for a case to bring the culprits to justice.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/supreme-court-acquits-five-police-officers-of-charges-in-missing-human-rights-lawyer-case


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-29

[AGareth2]

sad day for the widow

[Bluespunk]

"In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousand fold in the future. When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations."

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956

[Aj Mick]

Whether the accused were responsible for the abduction and robbery, or some others, it remains a case of the police and powers that be protecting their own….. Yet another injustice seen to be done.

[EnglishJohn]

These were your 'human rights' under Thaksin red-shirts. Somchai and plenty of others.

This is how he took care of business. He was still doing it right until the latest coup. THIRTY innocent people murdered to scare the rest away.

I have no time for such hypocrites.

[GuestHouse]

Reasons given by the Supreme Court were that Somchai’s family could not act as a co-plaintiff and there was no evidence showing that Somchai had been dead or seriously injured.

So to get away with murder, all you need to do is hide the body, safe in the knowledge that nobody can file a case against you, not even the family of the person you murdered.

[Briggsy]

There were many witnesses. He was bundled into a car on Ramkhamhaeng Road close to Huamak Police Station in broad daylight. This was after his car was hit from behind and he went to exchange details with the other driver.

This ruling, the previous court rulings, the specific charges that were selected and the investigation that led to them were utterly preposterous. This is the judiciary whitewashing enforced disappearance, and we must assume murder, of a leading human rights lawyer.

His widow has been and continues to be impressive and brave in her admirable fight for justice. But with virtually nothing to show in terms of results, reforms or convictions.

It is interesting to note that whether under an elected government or a military government, the unwillingness to seek the truth in this case remained constant from those that hold power.

[LomSak27]

Let us thank English John for jumping in so quick to remind one and all, these were the abuses perpetrated by the Thaksin Regime. Luckily he has been removed and nothing like that happens anymore.

In other news, Government spokesman deny any “frame up” of Burmese workers in Koh Tao murder case, No review of the Police, their procedures or verdict will be permitted.

That is all

Move along nothing to see here

[sharecropper]

What this case says is the authorities have no interest in this guy, or what happened to him, at all.

Doesn't say much for returning happiness if they can't even return a verdict on his abductors.

[trainman]

These were your 'human rights' under Thaksin red-shirts. Somchai and plenty of others.

This is how he took care of business. He was still doing it right until the latest coup. THIRTY innocent people murdered to scare the rest away.

I have no time for such hypocrites.

Thaksin has been gone for 9 years now John.

How have human rights fared since?

How are they now?

Now we have a Shinawatra-free Thailand have you noticed any improvements in accountability or justice?

This article is not about Thaksin, John. It's about the Supreme Court ruling that 5 uniformed abductors cannot be found guilty for abduction because no dead or injured body was found.

Sounds fair?

A good example of how human rights have improved under the military?

Justice prevails now Thaksin has gone?

Has it restored your happiness?

[mark131v]

Anybody (English John looking at you here!) that cannot see what is happening here needs to have a serious reality check..

The way the establishment have defended the police farce here in yet another case that is such an obvious travesty of justice is absolutely vomit inducing

Compare that to the B2 and Koh Tao no real evidence at all and obvious signs the case was mishandled right from the outset but still enough for a death penalty

This case seen by multiple witnesses a gang of Police bundling a troublesome lawyer into a car in who is then never seen again, come on really, you don't have to be Sherlock firkin Holmes do you....

For the likes of the true hypocrite's here such as English John can you not see that it really does not matter who is in charge wrong is still wrong? Who cares what Thaksin did, he is the past but todays lot are proving just as bad

The fact we have the little general and his cronies who says they took power supposedly to stop corruption turning a blind eye and instead concentrating on cementing their power by persecuting anybody who dares to voice opinion

Well seems very obvious to me and it is tragic some of you cannot see it for what it is, not hard is it? then again none so blind as those that refuse to see and Gawd knows we have a few of them on TVF...

Edited December 29, 2015 by mark131v

[ldiablo]

These were your 'human rights' under Thaksin red-shirts. Somchai and plenty of others.

This is how he took care of business. He was still doing it right until the latest coup. THIRTY innocent people murdered to scare the rest away.

I have no time for such hypocrites.

Yawn, boring

[ianf]

These were your 'human rights' under Thaksin red-shirts. Somchai and plenty of others.

This is how he took care of business. He was still doing it right until the latest coup. THIRTY innocent people murdered to scare the rest away.

I have no time for such hypocrites.

Thaksin has been gone for 9 years now John.

How have human rights fared since?

How are they now?

Now we have a Shinawatra-free Thailand have you noticed any improvements in accountability or justice?

This article is not about Thaksin, John. It's about the Supreme Court ruling that 5 uniformed abductors cannot be found guilty for abduction because no dead or injured body was found.

Sounds fair?

A good example of how human rights have improved under the military?

Justice prevails now Thaksin has gone?

Has it restored your happiness?

English John was simply pointing out that this was how Thaksin dealt with human rights as this occurred under his watch; remember he is still listed on 18 separate counts of serious human rights abuses by Amnesty International. However as we have seen under the present regime, with the continual blows against Burmese migrant workers and others, plus ca change

[catterwell]

The key point in this judgement was whether family, siblings and other close parties could be considered injured parties; not just the disappeared alone. In this case, the family et al could keep the case alive; if not, then not. The Supreme Court judgement seems to have been that the only injured party was the missing (presumed deceased) person. Thus only the injured party (presumed dead) or government agencies (presumed responsible for that) can follow up on the case.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Another case to show the world how Thai justice really works!!! Disgusting.

[Jackin1960]

sad day for the widow

An even sadder day for justice. This man taken by police then never seen again!!! Beggars belief that the police could simply walk away from this. Just like the two Burmese boys who will soon be murdered because of corrupt police and evidence. How much did the police take to keep the Island head man and his son free of charges for the murders of the English couple?

[spidermike007]

If he was never found then it is not just abduction, but murder too. What else was to be expected from what may be the planets weakest judiciary? The entire judicial system here is broken, from the ground up.

[snowgard]

So you can now go and robbery and abduction someone, kill him and don't must be worry to go in prison if you feed the body to the pigs?

This will give new business ideas to some people!!!

[Alwyn]

"there was no evidence showing that Somchai had been dead or seriously injured." Am I missing something here? To be convicted of robbery and abduction, the Thai legal system requires a dead body?

[kkup]

The corruption never ends in this place.

[kingalfred]

The countrys justice system that needs no comment

[FourAces]

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

[Emster23]

Note to self: if I ever murder someone, be sure to grind up body and feed to soi dogs. Alice in Amazing Thai Wonderland

[JOC]

>>The human lawyer went missing since he was forcibly taken away by these officers since on March 12, 2004. The five officers were seen forcing him into a car on Ramkhamhaeng road in Bangkok.<< Quote

And no criminal charges against the abductors?? <deleted> unbelievable !!

On a side note: My admiration for the wife, who's low profile and yet persistent fight for justice for her husband is worth our respect.........................

[SOTIRIOS]

...taken away by the police.....

...never to be seen again.......???

...and pronounced dead by the pm at the time.....???

...so just leave it at that.....???

...insane.....

[oneday]

"...and there was no evidence showing that Somchai had been dead or seriously injured..."

Now all Thai people know how to get away with murder. Just make sure the body is never found. People saw these officers forcibly take him away from his home and the court decides they are innocent. Par for the course. More bad news for next year's human rights report from the US.

Injustice everywhere you look. Convict innocent people and let guilty people go.

[dunroaming]

When will Thailand realise that they have absolutely no credibility left Maybe the police were innocent (highly unlikely) but no-one will believe anything they say now.

[kimamey]

These were your 'human rights' under Thaksin red-shirts. Somchai and plenty of others.

This is how he took care of business. He was still doing it right until the latest coup. THIRTY innocent people murdered to scare the rest away.

I have no time for such hypocrites.

Thaksin has been gone for 9 years now John.

How have human rights fared since?

How are they now?

Now we have a Shinawatra-free Thailand have you noticed any improvements in accountability or justice?

This article is not about Thaksin, John. It's about the Supreme Court ruling that 5 uniformed abductors cannot be found guilty for abduction because no dead or injured body was found.

Sounds fair?

A good example of how human rights have improved under the military?

Justice prevails now Thaksin has gone?

Has it restored your happiness?

I agree, this has happened under all regimes and looks as if it might still be happening now. Theoretically this has nothing to do with whichever government is in power as the courts are, or at least should be separate from government influence on individual cases. It's probably not a good idea to suggest otherwise, particularly now.

One thing I don't agree with you on is the idea that Thaksin has been gone for 9 years. He may not be physically in the country but he appears to have had significant influence and in many cases control right up until last year. He could be credited with having a played a large part in bringing about the coup. The PTP had a large majority and the result was accepted by the Democrats who were challenging the government on their policies in parliament despite attempts to accuse them off stealing bags of rice and bringing charges against Abhisit and Suthep but protecting the army (that went well). His self interest helped stop that.

Ultimately the police and military wield considerable power and it will be difficult to overcome that. Even the current PM can only act with the support of these groups.

Edited December 29, 2015 by kimamey

[MZurf]

These were your 'human rights' under Thaksin red-shirts. Somchai and plenty of others.

This is how he took care of business. He was still doing it right until the latest coup. THIRTY innocent people murdered to scare the rest away.

I have no time for such hypocrites.

That's right, John. It happened on Thaksin's watch, but the verdict came on your beloved junta's watch, so why hasn't justice been done, John?? Why?

Is the mercurial Uncle Too just too tired from tackling the enormously important problems concerning the national lottery? Is that the answer, John?

"I have no time for such hypocrites."

What hypocrisy are you referring to, John? You have to understand that for most posters (nay, the majority!) you are the biggest hypocrite on TVF, with your incessant and manic invocation of the name of the bogeyman in Dubai, while at the same time being absolutely blind to the many and increasingly obvious faults of the present regime.

Edited December 29, 2015 by MZurf

[Doc46]

Well Well,,The saying goes,, Some people get away with ,,,MURDER,,,