Hospital bomber sentenced 27 years in jail

BANGKOK , Dec 6 (TNA) – The Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced a retired engineer, who planted the bomb at the military Phramongkhlao Hospital, 27 years in jail. Wattana Phumret, 62, a retired employee of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) was handed down life sentence, which was commuted to 27 years as he confessed to the crime. He was also fined 500 baht. He was charged with an attempt for premeditated murder for his involvement in the bombing at hospital on May 22, 2016, which injured 21 persons and caused damage to property, worth one million baht. Mr Wattana confessed to assembling explosive parts himself. He assembled the pipe bomb, hidden in a flower vase before he attached it to the wall of the waiting area of out-patients at the dispensary room. The bomb type is similar to those, used at two separate bombing incidents outside the old Lottery Office building and the National Theater. The defendant confessed to both crimes. (TNA)