ID :
140472
Thu, 09/02/2010 - 15:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/140472
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Yellow shirt leader, TV co-host given suspended 6 months jail terms
BANGKOK, Sept 2 - Thailand's Criminal Court on Thursday sentenced media mogul and Yellow Shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul and his television co-host to six-month imprisonment suspended for two years in a defamation case involving fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The court also ordered Mr Sondhi and Sarocha Pornudomsak to pay fines of Bt20,000 (US$640) each.
The deposed premier earlier filed defamation charges against the duo after they accused him on their television talk show for being disloyal to the country's monarch.
Both TV hosts claimed in the programme that Surakiat Sathirathai, then foreign minister in the Thaksin administration, resigned from Thai Rak Thai party after the 2006 coup as he could not bear it when hearing Mr Thaksin insulting the monarchy.
The court said the two defendants were found guilty as filed by the plaintiff and sentenced them to two years in jail. Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha are also required to publish the court's verdict on six newspapers for three consecutive days.
As both have never served jail term and their action was done to protect the revered monarchy, the court suspended their terms for two years.
Media mogul Sondhi, a top leader of the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and a staunch opponent of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, played a key role in the marathon protest ushering in the downfall of the Thaksin administration and two successive governments – those of Somchai Wongsawat and Samak Sundaravej.
He retains his media role in the Yellow Shirt's satellite television organisation, ASTV, and hosts political talk show called "Muang Thai Rai Sapda" (Thailand Weekly) with Ms Sarocha. (MCOT online news)
The court also ordered Mr Sondhi and Sarocha Pornudomsak to pay fines of Bt20,000 (US$640) each.
The deposed premier earlier filed defamation charges against the duo after they accused him on their television talk show for being disloyal to the country's monarch.
Both TV hosts claimed in the programme that Surakiat Sathirathai, then foreign minister in the Thaksin administration, resigned from Thai Rak Thai party after the 2006 coup as he could not bear it when hearing Mr Thaksin insulting the monarchy.
The court said the two defendants were found guilty as filed by the plaintiff and sentenced them to two years in jail. Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha are also required to publish the court's verdict on six newspapers for three consecutive days.
As both have never served jail term and their action was done to protect the revered monarchy, the court suspended their terms for two years.
Media mogul Sondhi, a top leader of the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and a staunch opponent of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, played a key role in the marathon protest ushering in the downfall of the Thaksin administration and two successive governments – those of Somchai Wongsawat and Samak Sundaravej.
He retains his media role in the Yellow Shirt's satellite television organisation, ASTV, and hosts political talk show called "Muang Thai Rai Sapda" (Thailand Weekly) with Ms Sarocha. (MCOT online news)
