The Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced three former red-shirt leaders each to a year in jail, suspended for two years, and fines of 50,000 baht for defaming former Democrat Party MP Vachara Phetthong.
Veerakan Musikhapong, Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikuar of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship were also ordered to pay 600,000 baht in damages plus 7.5% annual interest to Mr Vachara and publish a brief apology in three daily newspapers for three consecutive days.
According to lawsuit, while hosting a talk show on PTV, a satellite TV station aimed at red shirts, on Dec 27, 2009, the three accused Mr Vachara of reprinting a book entitled Samak's Aggression Against Prem...to Thaksin's Nominee to disrespect former prime minister Samak Sundaravej, who had recently died. The programme also aired on the PTV website.
The accusation caused a number of red shirts to gather at the Democrat Party headquarters to intimidate Mr Vachara, tarnishing his reputation.
In fact, the book was published on March 23, 2008, before Mr Samak's death, and had never been reprinted, said the lawsuit.
The court found the three guilty as charged.
After hearing the court's verdict, Mr Vachara said he was considering filing an appeal against some points in the verdict.
Supap Phetsri, the defendants' lawyer, said he would appeal the verdict.