Missing policeman acquitted in missing lawyer case | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

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Missing cop acquitted in Somchai case

The Court of Appeal has acquitted a police officer accused of involvement in the disappearance of prominent Muslim human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit in 2004.

The court, in a ruling issued on Friday, said eyewitness accounts were inconclusive and there was no clear evidence to link Ngern Thongsuk to Somchai's disappearance.

Somchai, the chairman of the Thailand Muslim Lawyers Association, was 53 at the time of his disappearance. He was last seen in Bangkok.

He was well known for representing clients accused of insurgency-related violence in the far South.

In 2006, the Criminal Court convicted Ngern of assaulting Somchai and sentenced him to three years in jail.

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Your comments

  • Discussion 6 : 11 Mar 2013 at 15.256

    Now he can come out of hiding from under the landslide??

  • Discussion 5 : 11 Mar 2013 at 15.145

    After K Somchai's 'disappearance' someone reacted saying he had a fight with his wife and that he would probably reappear soon enough, who was it again? Sorry, this is not Thaksin bashing...

  • Discussion 4 : 11 Mar 2013 at 15.104

    ...the witnesses were threatened... Na-ah, impossible in Thailand, Thailand is a Democracy, you know! Even Hilary and Barack said it, so it must be true!...Or? What is Thailand, in fact?

  • Discussion 3 : 11 Mar 2013 at 15.033

    ...eyewitness accounts were inconclusive...no clear evidence...
    ...sentenced to...released on bail...went missing...acquitted...
    Why do we always have to read the same when members of the establishment and/or police go to trial on criminal charges? Rotting fruit mostly becomes brown, isn't it? Who's wearing that colour again? Ah, yes! Very accurate choice then I'm afraid...

  • Discussion 2 : 11 Mar 2013 at 14.082

    Pol Maj Ngern was released on bail and subsequently went missing. His relatives say he was swept away in a landslide.

    Maybe he will show up now by miracle.

  • Discussion 1 : 11 Mar 2013 at 13.571

    Nine years have passed and still no justice.Never heard of witness protection? If police is involved there should be extra protection for witnesses.
    How can government believe that violence in the south can be stopped, when no justice is served.,

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