The Appeal Court has upheld a lower court ruling to give a suspended two-year jail term to former Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha, and fine him 100,000 baht, for defaming the late owner of Landmark Hotel.
The court’s ruling was read out at the Criminal Court on Wednesday.
Anucha Sihanatkathakul, 60, a property businessman, had accused Mr Sirichok, 52, a former Democrat MP for Songkhla, of defamation over the defendant’s Facebook postings between July 22 and October 8, 2015 that his father Montri had taken advantage of other people.
Mr Sirichok denied the accusation. He appeared at the court on Wednesday, while a representative of the plaintiff was authorised to hear the verdict.
On Nov 19, 2017, the Criminal Court sentenced Mr Sirichok to two years in jail and a fine of 100,000 baht after it found him guilty of defamation. The lower court also ordered him to publish the court’s ruling in four newspapers –Thairath, Daily News, Manager and The Nation – for seven consecutive days. As the defendant was a public figure and had never faced legal punishment, the court suspended the jail term for two years.
The Appeal Court on Wednesday said the defendant had posted a message on his Facebook page about a dispute over a loan between his mother and the plaintiff’s late father. The post portrayed the plaintiff’s father and his family as cheats, the court found, and ruled the defendant’s claim that he made his comments honestly was not sound.
The Appeal Court upheld the lower court’s ruling.
Mr Sirichok said he was satisfied with Wednesday's ruling to a certain extent. He would consult his lawyers on whether to appeal to the Supreme Court.