PATTAYA – The Appeals Court on Tuesday supported the lower court’s sentence of a four-year prison term each, without suspension, for vocalist Arisman Pongruangrong and 12 other red-shirts for leading protesters who required their method into the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel in Pattaya, where the 2009 Asean Top was being held.
The storming of the Asean Top location on April 11, 2009 in demonstration versus the Abhisit Vejjajiva federal government triggered the evacuation of the local leaders and the post ponement of the top.
They were rejected bail.
The district attorneys initially submitted a suit versus 18 United Front for Democracy versus Dictatorship (UDD) members for defying an order forbiding a rally of more than 10 individuals and triggering discontent.
On Mar 5, 2015, the Pattaya Provincial Court sentenced 13 of them to 4 years each in prison, without suspension, and a fine of 200 baht. They were: Arisman Pongruangrong, Nisit Sinthuprai, Payap Panket, Worachai Hema, Wanchana Kerddee, Pichet Sukjindathong, Sakda Noppasit, Pol Lt Col Waipot Aparat, Nopporn Namchiangtai, Samrerng Prachamrua, Somyot Promma, Wallop Yangtrong and Singthong Buachum.
The court acquitted 2 offenders– Thongchai Sakmangkorn and Pol Col Sompol Ratthakarn– and suspended the procedures on 3 offenders who got away– Pol Lt Col Sa-ngiam Samranrat, Surachai Danwatthananusorn and Ms Orawan (surname unknown).
The court at first rejected bail for the founded guilty 13. Nevertheless, on Mar 9, 2015 UDD attorneys submitted another bail demand. The court gave bail to Mr Arisman, with 2-million-baht security, and launched the 12 others on 800,000-baht bail. The prosecution appealed.
Mr Arisman and the 12 others appeared on Tuesday at the Pattaya Provincial Court, where the Appeals Court’s judgment was set to read out.
The Appeals Court supported the lower court’s judgment, which sentences the 13 to 4 years each in prison without suspension.
Loved Ones of the 13 offenders sent bail demands, with 2 million baht security for Mr Arisman and one million baht each for the 12 others.
