Supreme Court adds to Arisman's jail sentence

Supreme Court adds to Arisman's jail sentence

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld two lower court rulings sentencing red-shirt co-leader Arisman Pongruangrong to one year in prison without suspension for defaming Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The sentence will run concurrently with an existing jail term Arisman is already serving.

Mr Abhisit accused Arisman of defaming him on two separate occasions during public addresses from Oct 11-17, 2009. The courts agreed he wrongfully accused the Democrat leader of delaying a royal pardon petition by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ordering troops to kill protesters, and corruption in several projects.

Arisman made the speeches at Democracy Monument and in front of Government House. The speeches were broadcast on People Channel TV.

Mr Abhisit claimed Arisman's comments tarnished his reputation and stoked public resentment against him.

Earlier, the Criminal Court sentenced Arisman to six months in prison without suspension on each count of defamation. The Appeal Court upheld the lower court's ruling. Arisman then took the case to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court yesterday also upheld the lower courts' rulings.

Arisman was not present as he is serving a four-year jail term after the Appeal Court last month upheld a lower court ruling sentencing him and 12 others to prison terms for leading a riot that disrupted the 2009 Asean Summit in Pattaya.

The storming of the Asean Summit took place on April 11, 2009 during the Abhisit government. Red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship protesters, led by Arisman, forced their way into the hotel, prompting the evacuation of the regional leaders.

Prosecutors charged them with defying an order prohibiting a rally of more than 10 people and violating traffic regulations. The Pattaya Provincial Court, in March 2015, sentenced each of them to four years.

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