Regional News
Retired Thai Teacher Gets Suspended Jail Sentence for Giving Flowers to Anti-Junta Activist
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BANGKOK – Retired teacher (Ajarn) Preecha Kaewbanpaew who was arrested and charged with sedition in Chiang Rai last October has been given a suspended jail sentence at a military tribunal in Bangkok, Monday.
77-year-old Preecha Kaewbanpaew was arrested and faced up to seven years in jail after being charged with sedition for giving flowers to anti-junta activist,Pansak Srithep during a protest in March.
The charge of sedition was later dropped and Preecha was instead charged with violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more people, the Khaosod reported.
The military court sentenced Preecha today to 6 months in jail and a fine of 8,000 baht.
The military judge said that since Preecha confessed, his sentence was halved to 3 months imprisonment and a 4,000 baht fine and a one year suspended jail term.
Ajarn Preecha Kaewbanpaew was released from custody after paying the 4,000 baht fine.