The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the lower courts' decision to sentence a man to 50 years in jail for repeatedly raping his female employee and forcefully detaining and threatening her with weapons.
The court acquitted his wife, who was earlier sentenced to 10 years in prison for assisting her husband to commit the crimes.
The high-profile case saw Surachai Vivattanachart, 41, and his wife Thanawan Klaiprae, 50, arraignedin the Criminal Court for raping a woman employee of his firm, International Detective Co, and detaining and threatening her with weapons, between April 19 and Aug 10, 2008.
With the alleged help of his wife, Surachai also threatened to distribute photos and videos of him having sex with the woman.
On March 29, 2013, the Criminal Court found Surachai guilty of rape and possessing weapons. He and his wife Thanawan Klaiprae were also found guilty of forcefully detaining the victim.
Surachai was sentenced to an accumulated jail term of 85 years and six months and the court fined him 1,050 baht. However, the law limits Surachai's jail term to 50 years.
Thanawan was given 10 years' imprisonment. The couple took the case to the Appeal Court.
The Appeal Court on Nov 4, 2014 upheld the lower court's sentences on Surachai and his wife. However, the wife did not show up to hear the ruling and the court issued a warrant for her arrest. The case was forwarded to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the 50-year prison term for Surachai, but acquitted Thanawan, who again failed to show up for the judgement.
The plaintiff's the lawyer, Rassamee Waiyanet, said she would further file for compensation.
In July 1996, Surachai, who was formerly known as Kanisorn, was convicted of beating and torturing his ex-wife, a former Miss Thailand runner-up.