Net idol admits having drugs in prison, faces more time

By The Nation

 

Photo from Panya Yimumphai’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kenglaiprang)

 

BANGKOK: -- Film actor and “Internet idol” Panya “Keng Laiprang” Yimumphai is back in jail after confessing in Bangkok’s Ratchadapisek Criminal Court on Wednesday that he had illegal drugs in his possession while he was incarcerated years ago.

The 34-year-old with a tattooed face (his nickname means “camouflage”) had originally denied a charge of possessing just over half a gram of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”) with intent to sell while serving time in Khlong Prem Prison. 

 

He’d been rearrested in January and was out on bail pending trial. 

 

At Wednesday’s court session to hear witness testimony, though, Panya changed his plea to guilty.

 

He was sentenced to a further six years, eight months in prison and fined Bt560,000, reduced to three years, four months and Bt280,000 because he confessed. 

 

Apparently planning to appeal the verdict, Panya’s mother offered Bt550,000 as bail insurance, but the judge forwarded her request to the Appeals Court. Panya is being held in remand prison pending the bail decision.

 

Panya acted as an extra in the 2017 British-French movie “A Prayer Before Dawn”, which was shown at the Cannes International Film Festival in May, with him and other cast members in attendance. 

 

The movie starred Joe Cole as the real-life Billy Moore, a troubled young British boxer who survived an ordeal in a Thai prison, becoming a muay thai champion. 

 

Panya served eight years in prison for attempted murder and robbery in 2003, but since his release in 2011 has been described as “a changed man”. 

 

Working as a DJ and product presenter and doing occasional nightclub appearances and film roles, he became an Internet celebrity, with two million followers on Facebook.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30324758

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-24

If he is an 'idol', it doesn't say much about the people who 'idolise' him !

A face only a mother could love. 

did i mis read  

 

IDOL or IDIOT 

 

 

 

Hey, that camouflage really works!

I didn't see him in that pic at first, I thought it was a blank graphic.

 

Actually, I've seen a few farang in Pattaya who went about as extreme.

 

 

39 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

A face only a mother could love. 

If she were blind.

Rent him out at Halloween. 

3 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

A face only a mother could love. 

Only if she was blind

4 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

If he is an 'idol', it doesn't say much about the people who 'idolise' him !

To the contrary!

It says everything about the people "idolising" him.

"Net idol" definition needs revision.

He seemed such a nice boy

Several prejudiced comments regarding the mans tattoos, this is Thailand, tattoos actually have cultural and religious significance here unlike the tattoos you see on a large proportion of foreigners in Thailand.

 

 

4 hours ago, Juan B Tong said:

"Net idol" definition needs revision.

 

What to, more than 2 million net followers?  I suspect some here are just a little jealous that this guy has 2 million followers when all they have following them are two stray dogs on their way back from the bar.

1 hour ago, Kieran00001 said:

Several prejudiced comments regarding the mans tattoos, this is Thailand, tattoos actually have cultural and religious significance here unlike the tattoos you see on a large proportion of foreigners in Thailand.

 

 

 

I couldn't agree more. Tattoos ar too much of a taboo. People have them for all sorts of reasons, often they are admiral reasons.

Any legal experts on here?

 

I am a little confused when read in the OP that he has plead guilt but that also plans to appeal the verdict?

 

is it really possible to appeal a guilty verdict if you plead guilty of your own choice?

 

This is a serious question, as did not think was possible to do so? 

 

 

20 minutes ago, CWMcMurray said:

Any legal experts on here?

 

I am a little confused when read in the OP that he has plead guilt but that also plans to appeal the verdict?

 

is it really possible to appeal a guilty verdict if you plead guilty of your own choice?

 

This is a serious question, as did not think was possible to do so? 

 

 

 

Perhaps the idea is to try to get the verdict of intent to sell reduced to a simple possession, but as he plead guilty I can't see there being any chance of that, but maybe he could argue that he was threatened or tricked into accepting the more serious charge.  Or it could be that she will appeal the sentence not the verdict.

so he was released from prison in 2011, and now the charges of drug use in prison surface?  Is this a knee jerk reaction to try and extort money from him after he made some money in the film?

I got no idea why someone would do that to their face. It's beyond me.