BANGKOK, March 8 — Dusit District Court in the Thai capital on Thursday sentenced the twin brothers who physically assaulted leading Nitirat academic Worachet Pakeerut on Feb 29, to three and 10 months imprisonment without suspension.
Supot and Supat Silarat, 30-year-old Pathum Thani residents, were sentenced to six months jail without suspension after confessing March 1 that they had attacked the law lecturer and leading campaigner of the Nitirat group at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus on Feb 29.
Due to their confession, the court commuted their six-month imprisonments without suspension to three-month jail each without suspension.
In addition, Mr Supot was sentenced to a seven-month jail term as a repeat offender for violating the Arms Act.
In a related development, their family sought a court order for their temporary release on bail and posted Bt50,000 cash each as collateral for the case.
However, the court rejected the request, citing their rough behaviour and violation of the law. The court therefore upheld their jail terms without suspension.
The assault took place at Thammasat University on Feb 29 when Mr Worachet neared the university’s parking lot. The attackers rushed the academic, punching him multiple times in the face. Dr Worachet suffered bruises and his eyeglasses were broken. Both assailants then fled the scene on a motorcycle.
The lecturer said he had never seen either man before, and did not know who they were.
One twin told police that they had attacked the Dr Worachet for personal reasons as they were angry that his group is seeking to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law.
