5-Year Sentence for Former Red Shirt Leaders in Gang-Related Case, Lèse-Majesté Charge Dismissed

The Criminal Court sentenced Phayap Punkate, a former United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) leader, and Phetworarat Watthanapongsirikit, a former list-based MP from the Phua Thai Party, to 5 years in prison. The case stemmed from events following the political protests in April-August 2553 (2010), where the defendants were accused of weapons training in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with alleged intentions to cause public unrest. The court found them guilty of supporting terrorist activities under Criminal Code Section 135/2, but acquitted them of royal defamation charges due to inconsistent witness testimonies.