Rich get bail, while poor go to jail

Published: 18 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Today, the latest in a series of lese majeste trials will begin at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road.

Lese majeste prisoners Daranee Charncherngsilapakul, left, Somyos Preusakasemsuk, above right, and ‘Uncle SMS’ Ampon Tangnoppakul all saw their repeated bail requests rejected, while more powerful and wealthy suspects are routinely freed for other serious offences.

Mr Surapak, whose last name was withheld, is a promising 40-year-old programmer from Bung Kan province. He was arrested on Sept 2, 2011 at his Bangkok residence.

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mingo
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Discussion 7 : 18 Sep 2012 at 17.407
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thavorn #6 - I guess the meaning with this article is actually partly to aggravate people, and to encourage people to entity against this obvious inequality in Thai society.
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thavorn
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Discussion 6 : 18 Sep 2012 at 15.426
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Your double-standard article is too short for foreigners to understand the point properly. Instead of creating improved attitude, your article is sure to aggravate the environment and tend to encourage a worsened attitude towards Thailand's entity
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domdunnn
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Discussion 5 : 18 Sep 2012 at 14.565
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The sad thing is when the UDD talk about inequality so many people here seem to think they are talking about money.
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jck
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Discussion 4 : 18 Sep 2012 at 13.344
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How sad for Thailand that killing someone is seen as less serious and with potentially a much lesser punishment than saying or writing something that some people deem offensive. Not a positive way to enhance Thailand's image worldwide.
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bern1005
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Discussion 3 : 18 Sep 2012 at 12.223
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It is a sad fact that our courts are not impartial institutions where the rule of law is paramount. Power, wealth and politics are known to be more important than justice in too many cases. The respect that the law should have is gravely damaged by the too obvious influences of prejudice, corruption and patronage in every part of the justice system.
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barryw
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Discussion 2 : 18 Sep 2012 at 09.442
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A very good article, but stating the obvious. Unless someone emerges as a real and honest leader who can lead a rebellion of the masses, nothing will change. Unfortunately most poor people have been taught from birth that they have no rights, and believe it. The same situation existed in Europe, 150 years ago. Maybe it will take Thailand that long to catch up.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 1 : 18 Sep 2012 at 07.231
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Brave of you publish this article, and allow comment. Bottom line, try explaining to an outsider that a young man doesn't even get arrested for being prime suspect in a hit and run murder, despite obvious intent to subvert justice, but others get banged up without bail for months due to slander of the highest order. Strange country in the 21st century.
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Rich get bail, while poor go to jail | Bangkok Post: opinion