The Supreme Court yesterday upheld an Appeals Court ruling ordering a former Pheu Thai MP to pay 500,000 baht in compensation to an ex-army commander who he said assaulted a woman during the red-shirt demonstrations five years ago.
Speaking in the House on April 23, 2009, then Nong Khai MP Somkid Banthaisong said Lt Col Kriangsak Nanthapodet, then commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment (Royal Guard), pulled the hair of a red-shirt demonstrator and dragged her on the road in front of a Din Daeng apartment building that day.
Prosecutors, who indicted Mr Somkid for defamation on Jan 11, 2011, said the speech was broadcast live on radio and TV nationwide, causing damage to Lt Col Kriangsak's reputation. The army officer demanded 500,000 baht in compensation.
The Criminal Court and Appeals Court sentenced Mr Somkid to six months in jail, a fine of 10,000 baht and ordered he pay compensation of 500,000 baht. They suspended the prison sentence because he had never been jailed before.
Mr Somkid appealed the case to the Supreme Court. But he court said it was not prepared to review the facts of the case, since the first two courts had already ruled.
The court said Lt Col Kriangsak was assigned to maintain order at the rally in Bangkok. It said claims he pulled the woman's hair made him look bad, as if he was prepared to assault someone who is weaker.
Based on the degree of defamation, the Appeals Court ruling which ordered the defendant to pay 500,000 baht in compensation was appropriate, the Supreme Court said.