Five former leaders of the anti-Thaksin movement, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), were sentenced to imprisonment from 1-2 years without suspension this morning for their lead role in the illegal intrusion into the state-owned NBT television station and Radio Thailand in August 2008.

The five, namely Somkiat Pongpaibul, Ms. Anchalee Paireerat, Puvadol Songprasert, Yutthiyong Limlertwathee and Khitipat Limthongkul, were charged by the public prosecutors with illegal assembly  causing public unrest, criminal association, illegal intrusion and occupation of the NBT television station and Radio Thailand and damaging state property during their involvement in the anti-government protests in August 2008.

The court dismissed a charge of criminal association, but found them guilty of the other charges and sentenced Somkiat to two years imprisonment and the rest one year each.

Ms. Anchalee told the media, before entering the court room, that the group had prepared bonds to be posted in the event that they receive prison sentences from the court.

After the reading of the verdict, they said they would take the case to the Appeals Court.