The Criminal Court Thursday sentenced a younger brother of a former chief of the Department of Special Investigation to 30 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to lese majeste charges related to land sales in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The court originally handed down a five-year jail sentence, but halved it citing his confession.
Setthawut, a 52-year-old real estate broker, entered his plea at the same time as property businessman and second defendant Boontham Boonthepprathan, 65, who asserted his innocence.
The public prosecutors alleged the defendants citied the monarchy to con land officials into issuing title deeds for land covering more than 700 rai in tambon Khanong Phra of Pak Chong district to Ban Chum Thong Co and Khaoyai Beverly Hill Co in 2007-2008. The two companies, in which Mr Boonthem was an executive, planned to resell the land at a higher price.
However, land trade in the area is forbidden by law as parts of it belong to an army unit or are protected.
Setthawut allegedly name-dropped former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan while claiming the land would be developed into a palace for the royal family.
Mr Boontham allegedly told Mr Setthawut that he was close to Pol Lt Gen Pongpat, which was a relative of former HRH Princess Srirasm, now officially known as Thanphuying Srirasmi Suwadee. Should Mr Setthawut have any problem in requesting the issuance of title deeds he could inform Mr Boomtham immediately.
The remarks defamed the royal institution in order to gain personal benefits, the prosecutors alleged.
Mr Boontham denied he ever mentioned the monarchy during his attempts to buy the land when he turned himself in to police on Feb 27.
Setthawut -- younger sibling of ex-DSI chief Tarit Pengdith -- surrendered to police earlier that month after a warrant had been issued for his arrest.