Red-shirt Kwanchai, on the run, gets two years jail
The Supreme Court yesterday |sentenced red-shirt activist Kwanchai Praipana in absentia to two years in jail and a fine of Bt350,00 for attempted murder and assault.
Seven yellow shirts had filed a lawsuit against Kwanchai for an attack at Nongprajak Park in Udon Thani in 2008 that had left many people seriously injured.
Both the Criminal and Appeals Courts found Kwanchai guilty and sentenced him to two years and eight months in jail as well as a fine of Bt350,000 plus 7.5 per cent interest.
Kwanchai was released on a Bt500,000 bail after he appealed the verdict at Supreme Court, but then failed to turn up to hear the verdict on May 24. In addition, his Bt500,000 bail guarantee was confiscated yesterday when he once again failed to show in court. However, his wife Aporn Sarakham and their son Korawee Sarakham were present.
Aporn said she did not know her husband’s whereabouts, but knew he was in a safe place. He had called in to a radio station on June 13.
She said her husband may return to face the court once the country returns to “full democracy” because he had said he did not feel safe.
