THE Court of Appeals Region 3 today (Sep. 14) granted bail to two leading pro-democracy activists who were yesterday sentenced to jail in a lese majeste case stemming from speeches they gave at a rally in Phu Khieo district of Chaiyaphum province in 2012, Naewna newspaper said.
Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa and Atthaphon “Khru Yai” Buaphat, two key pro-democracy activists in the Northeast, had been charged with violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, Section 116, or the sedition law, the Emergency Decree and using a loudspeaker without permission over speeches they gave in front of Phu Khieo school and Phu Khiew police station on Feb. 1, 2021.
The court ruled that it had considered the circumstances of the case and the severity of the charges and found that as the two defendants had been previously temporarily released during trial and had no intention of fleeing they could be bailed out during the appeal process at 300,000 baht each.
Yesterday Phu Khieo Provincial Court ruled that both defendants were guilty of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code while dismissing charges under Section 116, the Emergency Decree and using a loudspeaker without permission.
They were both sentenced to three years in jail with Jatupat’s sentence increased to four and six months’ imprisonment for repeating the offence within three years of being released.
However the defendants’ useful testimony led to their sentences being reduced by one-third, with Jatupat to serve three years in jail and Atthaphon two years.
CAPTION:
Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa and Atthaphon “Khru Yai” Buaphat making a heart sign outside the court today, Sep. 14, 2024. Photo: Thai Lawyers for Human Rights
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