The Appeals Court today commuted the prison terms imposed on 18 core members of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee today, from between 5 and 9 years to 12 months, after it upheld their Criminal Court convictions.
The sentences of four of them were suspended for two years, while the rest were not.
The 18 defendants were found guilty by the Criminal Court on September 24, 2021 on multiple charges, ranging from incitement to strike, criminal association and encroachment on government buildings to disruption of traffic, during the massive anti-government protests between November 23, 2013 and May 1, 2014, in an attempt to topple the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
They were, however, acquitted of the charges of sedition and terrorism, on the grounds that the protesters did not resort to violence during their prolonged protests.
The 18 are Suthep Thaugsuban, former PDRC secretary-general; Chumphol Julasai, Puttipong Punnakanta, Nataphol Teepsuwan, Issara Somchai, Thavorn Senniam, the late Suvit Thongprasert or Phra Buddha Issara and Samdin Lertbut, Somsak Kosaisuk, Komsan Thongsiri, Samran Rodpetch, Amorn Amornratananont, Kittichai Saisa-ard, Anchalee Paireerak, Sathit Wongnongtaey, Taya Teepsuwan, Savit Kaewwan and Sathit Segal.
Nineteen other defendants were acquitted by the Criminal Court, which was upheld by the Appeals Court.
A total of 39 core PDRC members were indicted. 37 showed up today. Two others have passed away.
All have applied for bail and are waiting for a decision from the court.
