Former deputy finance minister Benja bailed

Former deputy finance minister Benja bailed

Former deputy finance minister Benja Louischaroen and four co-accused are appealing their malfeasance convictions to the Supreme Court. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Former deputy finance minister Benja Louischaroen and four co-accused are appealing their malfeasance convictions to the Supreme Court. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail for former deputy finance minister Benja Louischaroen and four others convicted earlier of malfeasance on condition that they not leave the country.

Each of the five posted a 500,000-baht surety with their request to be released temporarily while they fight their convictions in the country's highest court.

They are banned from going abroad and the Immigration Bureau will be notified of the court decision.

Benja and two former Finance Ministry officials, along with one active ministry official, had their three-year jail sentences upheld by the Appeal Court on Thursday as it affirmed the ruling of the lower court in their malfeasance case. 

Pranee Vejjapruekpitak, who was close to the secretary of Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, the ex-wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was sentenced to two years in the same case.

All five had been accused by the National Anti-Corruption Commission of helping two of Thaksin's children -- Panthongtae and Pinthongta -- evade taxes and receive benefits they were not entitled to in 2015.

Convicted ministry official Krit Vipulanusat was detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison and the four women -- Benja, Pranee, Chamras Yamsoithong and Moreerat Boonyasiri -- were at the Central Women's Correctional Institute. All were expected to be released on Friday night.

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