The Criminal Court on Friday sentenced a former guard of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and another man to 43 years and four months in jail each for an M79 grenade attack on People's Democratic Reform Committee protesters in 2014.
Prosecutors charged Narongsak "Tui" Plai-aram, a former UDD guard, and Peerapong Sinthusonthichart, who provided the weapon, with attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, carrying weapons in public without appropriate reason, and causing damage to property.
On March 7, 2014 Narongsak and his collaborators launched an M79 grenade at PDRC protesters rallying in front of Shinawatra Building 3 in Chatuchak district. The grenade hit a pole on the building and ornamental trees, causing about 20,000 baht damage when it exploded.
During the trial, Narongsak confessed to the charges. He told the court he went to pick up an M79 launcher and ammunition from the parking lot at the Imperial Department Store, Lat Phrao. He gave details of the route he said he drove a man identified as Yongyuth Boondee in a car to where the M79 grenade was launched.
Peerapong confessed during police interrogation that he telephoned Narongsak to pick up the weapon used in the attack.
The court sentenced Narongsak and Peerapong to 12 years each for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, three years each for carrying them in public, and life imprisonment for attempted murder.
Because of their confessions, the sentence was reduced by one-third to 43 years and four months each in prison.
Under the law, they will each serve a maximum of 20 years.