Three Phitsanuloke police officers who opened fire at a group of five university students travelling in a sedan and then assaulted some of them were found guilty of battery charges and sentenced to 8-11 months imprisonment by the Phitsanuloke provincial court on Tuesday.
The case took place in Muang district of Phitsanuloke province on the night of March 18 last year.
The five students of Rajabhat Pibulsongkhram University were travelling in a car when they were told to stop by one of the three police officers riding in a pickup truck. But when students’ car did not stop, the policemen in the car opened fire at their car and they beat up the male students.
The three officers were identified as Pol Sgt Subin Nutkham, Pol Lt Thanakarn Chaipipat and Pol Cpt Wutthipat Bua-urai. They were charged with attempted murder, assault and illegal detention.
The court found the three officers guilty of illegal detention and dismissed the other charges. It handed down 11 months jailterm on Subin and eight months imprisonment on Thanakarn and Wutthipat.
The three officers were however released on 500,000 baht bail each following their conviction.
The students said they would appeal against the verdict to demand higher penalties against the three officers.
