The elderly woman who hurled verbal abuse at then Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, during his visit to Ban Pong district in Ratchaburi in March this year, was sentenced to six months and 10 days in jail and fined 1,000 baht today (Tuesday), without suspension, by the Ratchaburi District Court.
In imposing the sentence on the defendant, popularly known in the district as “Pa Na Ban Pong”, the court ruled that she had encroached on the security zone maintained around the prime minister and his entourage.
Police had asked the defendant to leave, but she resisted, said the court, adding that she did not repent for her actions but threatened to sue the officials who were performing their duty at the scene in a manner indicating her disrespect for the law.
Pa Na Bang Pong was dragged out of the reserved area by police when she refused to leave voluntarily when asked. The incident occurred in front of the Ban Pong municipal office.
The court said that, if the law were not to be strictly enforced against the defendant, it may set an example for other people to do likewise, hence, there is no reason for the court to suspend the jail term.
The court did, however, grant her temporary release, after 30,000 baht in bail was provided by the Ratsadon Prasong Fund.
After being bailed, Pa Na Ban Pong had her head shaved, in front of the court house, in a gesture of protest.
She later told the media that she will not give up her fight for justice, as she questioned whether making offensive remarks against the then prime minister was serious enough to really warrant six months in jail.
