UBON RATCHATHANI, Aug 26 — The Appeals Court in Ubon Ratchathani province on Friday rejected a bail request by four Red Shirt activists awaiting action on their appeal process after they were sentenced to over 30 years imprisonment for their role in setting fire to provincial offices here last year.
The four convicted red shirts are Pattama Moonmil, Theerawat Sajasuwan, Sanong Katesuwan and Somsak Prasansap who were handed down life imprisonment sentences, but their jail time has been commuted to 33 years and four months as they gave useful testimony to the court.
They were among 21 members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the Red Shirt movement, charged for their alleged roles in the political unrest last year for breaching the security law, invading state-owned buildings, damaging assets and setting the city hall on fire on May 19.
The 10 Pheu Thai MPs used their status and Bt16 million worth land deed as bail bond to seek temporary release for the four but the court ruled that the case was considered serious offence and the Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Court had handed down severe punishment therefore the court opposed their bail request for fear that they might jump bail and escape.
The four were later brought back to Ubon Ratchathani prison.
Apart from the four, the other four Red Shirts were sentenced to three years of imprisonment and their jail terms were reduced to two years for giving useful information to the court.
Another four people were given one year prison terms, which were reduced to eight months.
The court acquitted nine others as there was insufficient evidence indicating they committed a crime.
