The Supreme Court has overturned the Appeal Court's ruling and sentenced fugitive former Democrat Party MP Pracha Phothipitit and his wife to seven years in jail, commuted to four years and eight months, for encroaching on more than 50 rai of state land in Kanchanaburi province.
The Supreme Court read the ruling on Thursday, rejecting the claims of Pracha, alias Kamnan Sia, and his wife, Khemporn Tangjaiyen, that they had no intention of encroaching on the state land in Bo Phloi district in Kanchanaburi during 2001-02.
The first court sentenced Pracha, 76, and his 53-year-old wife to 11 years and four months each in 2015. The Appeal Court dismissed the case in the following year.
The ruling on Thursday was read in absentia since the pair had jumped bail and fled during the appeal. The Supreme Court also issued arrest warrants to bring them back to serve the prison terms.
The latest sentence adds to their previous jail terms handed down by the Supreme Court on a bidding price collusion in projects in the province and another land encroachment case in Dan Makhamtei district in Kanchanaburi and Suan Phung district of Ratchaburi province.
The total jail term of Pracha is 12 years and four months, while Khemporn will serve eight years and eight months.
Kamnan Sia, an influential figure in Kanchanaburi, was an MP under the Democrat banner.