Elderly Man Gets Suspended Sentence for Giving Flowers
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Lawyer Winyat Chartmontree at left and his 77-year-old client Preecha Kaewbanpaew in front of Bangkok’s military court Monday morning.

BANGKOK — A 77-year-old man arrested for giving flowers to a pro-democracy activist was given a suspended jail sentence Monday at a military tribunal in the capital.

Former teacher Preecha Kaewbanpaew was arrested in October for giving food from McDonald’s and some flowers to Resistant Citizen leader Pansak Srithep during his rally last March. Preecha pleaded guilty today to a charge of violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more people.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1463987393

-- Khaosod English 2016-05-23

Kind sentence.

Well done the Military Court.

You could not make this up.

Thailand at its best, gets a suspended sentence for giving flowers.

That kills the old' Say it with Flowers Greeting - STONE DEAD !!!

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Disneyland.

Kind sentence.

Well done the Military Court.

Not withstanding he never should have been arrested and charged in the first place........doesn't really dovetail with returning happiness or reconciling anyone.

But fire safety codes go ignored.

We are past authoritarian, it's becoming burlesque.

Words fail but the way things are going they shouldn't really as nothing should come as a surprise.

pathetic soft-co*ckery from the court, 77 year old retired teacher should have got 15 years in the nick.

That's just mean. Why would you sue such a harmless action ? Unless you want to state to the population that you are done trying to please or even to appear beneficial to the people, but now intend to rule with hysterical intimidation.

Edited May 23, 201610 yr by Calach

You could not make this up.

Thailand at its best, gets a suspended sentence for giving flowers.

Yes. He could have been unlicenced and killed 9 people and got the same sentence.

This dangerous criminal is a danger to society and all flower growers.

So the law is paralyzed,and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

so justice goes forth perverted.

Habakkuk 1:4

That's the same punishment as you get for killing people with your car... if you are rich. Makes sense

...and the Muppet- show continues!

“I did nothing wrong, I just walked along the road,” he said in an October interview. “I have the right to walk.”

You sure about that...

That's the same punishment as you get for killing people with your car... if you are rich. Makes sense

Don't be ridiculous!

If you kill 9 people with your car, you ALSO get 48 hours of civil service in a facility of your choice, to be done within 2 years!

The title is just click-bait, typical of Khaosod English. He was charged with violating the ban on political gatherings, not giving flowers or food.

Ah well, what's the point? News outlets will make stuff up no matter what you do.

" Preecha pleaded guilty today to a charge of violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more people."

He was forced to plead guilty to a crime that he did not commit, he was simply standing in the street. Pleading not guilty normally gets a poor person put in jail for a few years while they wait for a trail by a single judge. Thai law is a disgrace, poor people are always guilty.

You could not make this up.

Thailand at its best, gets a suspended sentence for giving flowers.

Giving the flowers was fine - was giving the McDonald’s that was the problem

Kill nine people on the highway whilst unlicensed and get 48hrs a year community service, give flowers and get a suspended sentence, Amazing Thailand.

A low life wouldn't think of doing this , a total abuse of human rights , and whilst Thailand's Junta continues down this pathetic path it will fool no one in the International community that it is cleaning up human rights abuse , Thailand, the laughing stock of Asia well done................................ .

Maybe the reason he was arrested was not the flowers but the intended recipient

With all their tanks, guns, subs, helicopters military might and man power.

I just don't understand, where is the need to bully up on a 77 year old man.

With all their tanks, guns, subs, helicopters military might and man power.

I just don't understand, where is the need to bully up on a 77 year old man.

It is a very strong message to anybody else who may wish to publicly protest.

All the clowns on here believing this military regime would "clean up corruption" and be different from any other previous self-appointed military administration from Thailand's recent history.

It will only get worse and will end in a massacre.

Amazing Thailand indeed. Let the poor man go!

There are people who protest, but the medias are too afraid of the junta government to publish the news.

Edited May 23, 201610 yr by stickyrice2000

It's all part of the show folks. Keep a watch out for up coming events but don't forget to duck when you hear bullets wizzing around!

It's really Orwellian .

The Friday night forced get together s .

Propaganda .

Old guys narrowly avoiding jail for really the most harmless actions.

Facebook likes .

Two years ago the army took control.

See how liberties have be crunched in that time?

What will it be like in two more years ?

Will we be writing opinions here?

Will there have been civil strife cities levelled ?

Peace and tolerance and a new elected government ?

Flowers are a powerful mechanism at times.

Lets hope the old man is left in peace

Edited May 23, 201610 yr by Plutojames88

With all their tanks, guns, subs, helicopters military might and man power.

I just don't understand, where is the need to bully up on a 77 year old man.

It is a very strong message to anybody else who may wish to publicly protest.

All the clowns on here believing this military regime would "clean up corruption" and be different from any other previous self-appointed military administration from Thailand's recent history.

It will only get worse and will end in a massacre.

Sadly sir , I think your analysis might be correct in the longer run.

We can privately hope not.