The Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced disgraced former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan to another two years and six months for illegally possessing historic artefacts.
The court initially handed down a five-year term to the convicted ex-CIB chief, but the sentence was reduced by half.
The case was filed against Pol Lt Gen Pongpat after authorities recovered 51 artefacts during a search of his house in tambon Bang Talat of Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district on Nov 19.
He was charged with violating the 1991 law on ancient structures, artefacts and national museums by keeping the artefacts in his possession without notifying the director-general of the Fine Arts Department. The court found him guilty as charged.
Pol Lt Gen Pongpat and alleged members of his criminal network -- police officers and civilians -- were last year slapped with various charges including violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or lese majeste law, plus misconduct, demanding and accepting bribes, and malfeasance.
A number of jail terms had been imposed on him and his accomplices for those offences by the Criminal Court.