United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) chairman Jatuporn Promphan plans to petition His Majesty the King to seek justice over a court order to serve his remaining sentence after he was already released from prison.
“This case is unprecedented as it has not happened to anyone in Thailand or in the world before,” said the red-shirt movement leader today (Sunday).
According to Jatuporn, the case concerns four defamation lawsuits filed against him by former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. He was acquitted on two of the cases and convicted on the other two and sentenced to two years in prison by the Supreme Court.
Jatuporn said he had served his time and was released from prison on August 4th last year adding, however, that one day later a complaint was lodged with the court claiming that he had not completed his prison term and should be returned to prison.
The first court dismissed the petition, but the complainant went to the Appeals Court, which ruled on September 12th ordering Jatuporn to be incarcerated to serve the remaining prison term.
“I would like to know if is there anyone in Thailand who has been served with an imprisonment warrant after the case was finalized and a release warrant was issued. After one year, one month and eight days, there came an order for him to be sent back to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence,” said the red-shirt leader.
He cited the case of former media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, who was sentenced to 85 years in prison, but actually served only two years, 11 months and 11 days and was then released under a Royal pardon.
He admitted that he was confused by the court’s order and had no other choice but to petition HM the King to ask for justice.
