Supreme Court sentences Jatuporn six months in prison on defamation charge

[webfact]

Supreme Court sentences Jatuporn six months in prison on defamation charge



BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court today upheld the ruling of the Criminal Court to sentence redshirt leader Jatuporn Prompan to six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 baht for defaming the former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on January 13, 2009.

The highest court’s ruling was seen to reverse earlier ruling by the Appeals Court that he was not guilty of defamation and acquitted him of the charge.

Earlier on July 10, 2014, the Criminal Court or the first court convicted him guilty of the charge, and handed down six month jail term.

But the jail sentence was suspended for two years on reason that he never served jail term in the past.

But on the final trial, the highest court upheld the first court’s verdict and sentenced him to six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 baht.

The jail term was suspended for two years instead.

The leader of the redshirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship faced defamation suit after he told a press conference on January 13, 2009 accusing Mr Abhisit of not showing respect to the King after he was granted a royal audience.

The redshirt leader accused Mr Abhisit of behaving inappropriately as if he has equal footing.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/165751


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-02

[than]

another suspended jail tern for the clown

Like the elite that he fight, he has some protections

[mtls2005]

Can't they just use Sec. 44 to imprison all these red shirts?

What's with all this legal/justice mumbo-jumbo, I thought Thailand was "unique"?

Edited June 2, 2016 by mtls2005

[ChrisY1]

He's saving up suspensions......maybe he can trade them somehow!

[whatproblem]

With all the suspended sentences he has because he's never been to prison before ,looks like on that logic no one will ever go prison

[shirtless]

Its a great example of freedom of speech, In Thailand it does not matter if what is said is true.

[Prbkk]

They should forget all these political cases, on both sides and revert to the policy of pursuing the real hardened crims: surely there are more senior citizens picking mushrooms in the forests....go after them, will full vigour and throw them all in prison.

[DaddyWarbucks]

Its a great example of freedom of speech, In Thailand it does not matter if what is said is true.

That's right; true or false doesn't matter.

It's the ​intent to defame that can get hapless people convicted.

[trogers]

ASEAN hub of suspended jail sentences?

[Emster23]

"The redshirt leader accused Mr Abhisit of behaving inappropriately as if he has equal footing."

Well, there you have it. I do hope there is no statue of blindfolded Justice in Thailand. All these defamation laws need to be thrown out, and jail time also.

[apetley]

"But the jail sentence was suspended for two years on reason that he never served jail term in the past."

A self perpetuating loop if ever there was one.

[bobmac10]

Anyone can see that Mr Jatuporn is not ( by the principals of Sakdina) on an equal footing with Mr Abbhisit the coup appointed prime minister

Heaven forbid, he is at least 50 rungs lower according to my estimate, but will have to consult with my elite friends in the know

We can't have mere commoners talking about hi so people in the press, what next!

[Cuchulainn]

When oh when will this patheic grubby parasite be finally sent down for some real jail time?

[Ulic]

A ridiculous charge for a ridiculous guy.

[realenglish1]

Can't they just use Sec. 44 to imprison all these red shirts?

What's with all this legal/justice mumbo-jumbo, I thought Thailand was "unique"?

I thank god that you are not on my jury Otherwise I am guilty just because you do not like the color of my shirt

This is one reason Thailand is screwed up People like you are allowed to form lynch mobs

What is wrong with the rule of law I guess you think no need for the opposition to have rule of Law

Disgusting

[Tatsujin]

Have I got this right?

He was found guilty, given 6 months, but cos he has never been in jail before given a 2 year suspended sentence?

And now, he's been found guilty again, given 6 months, but it's again been suspended for 2 years?

What's the < deleted > point of handing out jail time and then suspending it?

(rhetorical, we all know why)

[tbthailand]

of course there is no way that such a conviction could ever be viewed as political ....

[tbthailand]

Have I got this right?

He was found guilty, given 6 months, but cos he has never been in jail before given a 2 year suspended sentence?

And now, he's been found guilty again, given 6 months, but it's again been suspended for 2 years?

What's the < deleted > point of handing out jail time and then suspending it?

(rhetorical, we all know why)

and in between, he was acquitted which makes this double-jeopordy ...

[Baerboxer]

They should forget all these political cases, on both sides and revert to the policy of pursuing the real hardened crims: surely there are more senior citizens picking mushrooms in the forests....go after them, will full vigour and throw them all in prison.

Absolutely - they should all be forced to buy their mushrooms from Yingluck.

[Baerboxer]

Have I got this right?

He was found guilty, given 6 months, but cos he has never been in jail before given a 2 year suspended sentence?

And now, he's been found guilty again, given 6 months, but it's again been suspended for 2 years?

What's the < deleted > point of handing out jail time and then suspending it?

(rhetorical, we all know why)

and in between, he was acquitted which makes this double-jeopordy ...

Do they have double - jepody in Thailand?

How does double jepody apply in an appeals process? He found guilty and appeals, and his acquitted, to which the state appeals and he's convicted by the Supreme court. Is that a new trial or simply the considering the validity of the appeal court's judgement?

I don't know American Law but thought d-j meant you couldn't be tried for the same offence twice i,e, a new trial.

[Tatsujin]

Have I got this right?

He was found guilty, given 6 months, but cos he has never been in jail before given a 2 year suspended sentence?

And now, he's been found guilty again, given 6 months, but it's again been suspended for 2 years?

What's the < deleted > point of handing out jail time and then suspending it?

(rhetorical, we all know why)

and in between, he was acquitted which makes this double-jeopordy ...

Do they have double - jepody in Thailand?

How does double jepody apply in an appeals process? He found guilty and appeals, and his acquitted, to which the state appeals and he's convicted by the Supreme court. Is that a new trial or simply the considering the validity of the appeal court's judgement?

I don't know American Law but thought d-j meant you couldn't be tried for the same offence twice i,e, a new trial.

Who the hell knows? They seem to make it up as they go along here to suit whoever they're out to get at the time.

Kill multiple people and you're out on bail, say something "bad" and you get 15 years. Insanity.

[khaowong1]

Time to find him a really good doctor.. I think there's one for rent at this certain Buddhist temple.

[waitforusalso]

When oh when will this pathetic grubby parasite be finally sent down for some real jail time?

Yes, you'd think ordering the murder of 90 civilians would warrant a long stint in jail, wouldn't you?

[gamini]

Anyone can see that Mr Jatuporn is not ( by the principals of Sakdina) on an equal footing with Mr Abbhisit the coup appointed prime minister

Heaven forbid, he is at least 50 rungs lower according to my estimate, but will have to consult with my elite friends in the know

We can't have mere commoners talking about hi so people in the press, what next!

Hi-So means people who pretend to be high class when they are not. Nouveau Riche usually act kike this. You can hardly apply this term to dscribe Khun Abhisit. I presume therefor you don't know what it means! I also guess you have not been in Thailand very long and were not here when he was elected prime minister. He was democratically elected by a majority of MP's. The choice was between him and a policeman (Taksins man). The army played no part. It was all above board and televised on TV. Taksin then embarked on a spree of violence and misinformation spending billions of baht to try and overthrow Abhisit.

[Junkyarddog]

No one goes to jail in Thailand except peons and farangs.

[beautifulthailand99]

Meanwhile his bete noir and tormentor gets to quaff deeply at the coupmakers's punchbowl ..

[Denim]

of course there is no way that such a conviction could ever be viewed as political ....

Of course not. Mind you , today the appeals court decided to let Sondhi Limongkul off in his own defamation case saying that his remarks against Thaksin , whilst not being true , were well intentioned and said in good faith.

Edited June 2, 2016 by Denim

[bobmac10]

Gamini, nice obfuscation there, choosing to completely ignore the meaning of my post

I'm sure you really know the point I am making

Hi so are the nouveau riche eh? So who says?

Clearly you don't have a clue about Sakdina, the not discussed but ever present and dominant force of class segregation here

If you did you would understand my sarcasm

On the other point, so Abbhisit won a general election did he?

Could have fooled me, I thought Thaksin's government was ousted in a coup, and PT was abolished

Not much opposition then to Mr A being voted in by his cronies

You continue to apologise and offer the weakest excuses for this mob of military geniuses who once again have siezed control and now don't know what to do next

State intrusion into private electronic communications is always a standard response to a populations increasing disillusionment with a sagging economy and a burgeoning cult worship of the Dear Leader

Still, things are improving all the time and 99% of people are happy, it must be true because I heard it from the horses mouth

[candide]

Its a great example of freedom of speech, In Thailand it does not matter if what is said is true.

That's right; true or false doesn't matter.

It's the ​intent to defame that can get hapless people convicted.

It seems to be a bit more subtle (did I say biased?), as shown by 2 cases reported today in the BP. On the one hand, Jutaporn was condemned because his remark was not made in good faith. On the other hand, because his criticism and expression of opinion were carried in good faith, Sondhi was acquitted.

So it's not only the intent to defame, but also whether it was done in "good faith" or not, which seems to be a very subjective notion. And very convenient too.

Edited June 2, 2016 by candide

[mikebell]

How many layers of court are there? Is the Supreme court the final arbiter or is there a Supreme Supreme court to appeal to?