PAD demonstration leaders jailed for breaking into Government House

BANGKOK, Feb 13 (TNA) -- Six former leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy were sentenced by the Supreme Court to eight months in jail for seizing Government House in 2008. Their request for imprisonment suspension was turned down. Chamlong Srimuang, 83, Sondhi Limthongkul, 70, Pibhop Dhongchai, 72, Somkiat Pongpaibul, 68, Somsak Kosaisuk, 72, and Suriyasai Katasila, 45, were taken from the Criminal Court to the Bangkok Remand Prison after hearing the ruling. The Supreme Court found them guilty of breaking into Government House and damaging its properties on Dec 3, 2008, during their protest against the government of former prime minister Samak Sundaravej. PAD members also drove a six-wheeled truck carrying loudspeakers into the compound to facilitate demonstration speeches. Crowds of demonstrators stepped on lawns, sprinklers and lamps worth 5 million baht and their black plastic bags used to cover CCTV cameras caused rainwater to damage the devices worth 1.76 million baht. The Criminal Court sentenced them to two years in jail in 2015. The Appeal Court reduced the term to eight months. The Supreme Court dismissed the defendants’ stance that they had led peaceful protests, saying demonstrators had climbed over the fences of Government House. The court also turned down their request for it to suspend the imprisonment sentence. The court reasoned that their demonstration had seriously affected Government House that was the place of national administration and many government organizations within its compound. (TNA)