Bangkok Post – Court reduces Suthep’s prison sentence to 1 year

Leader of the 2013-2014 Bangkok lockdown protests and associates will appeal to the Supreme Court

The Court of Appeal on Thursday ordered the prison sentence of Suthep Thaugsuban, convicted of leading a People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protest during the Bangkok shutdown in early 2014, to be reduced from five years to one year of probation, according to Suthep’s lawyer, Sawat Charoenpol.

The verdict was read on Thursday in the Criminal Court. The prosecutor indicted 39 key PDRC members, led by Mr. Suthep, on a number of charges, including conspiracy to commit high treason, terrorism, inciting people to join a protest, unlawful assembly and causing social unrest.

The charges stemmed from the group’s Operation Bangkok Shutdown during the PDRC protests in the capital in early 2014 and obstruction of some polling stations during the February 2, 2014 general elections, which were later invalidated by a Constitutional Court order.

On February 24, 2021, a lower court found 26 key members and leaders of the PDRC not guilty of attempting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, which constitutes grounds for high treason. The defendants also did not commit acts of terrorism.

However, according to the court, they were found guilty of incitement, illegal assembly and other charges. They convinced the public to stop working and join Operation Shutdown in Bangkok. The defendants were ordered to suspend their political rights for five years.

The remaining defendants lost the lower court verdict, even though they were deemed participants, not leaders, of the protest who had committed minor crimes and deserved a chance at redemption. The court ordered the suspension of their various prison sentences for two years.

On Thursday, Sawat said the Court of Appeal had commuted the prison sentences of 26 core members and leaders of the PDRC.

Arriving in the courtroom on Thursday, Suthep said he respected the court’s decision and that he had prepared himself in case he had to spend time in jail after Thursday’s ruling.

After the verdict was read, Mr. Suthep and 13 other defendants appealed to the Supreme Court. Suthep has reportedly been released on bail.