MILESTONES

Sentenced: By the Criminal Court to 80 and a half years in prison, serial bomber Watana Pumret. The 63-yearold was most famously convicted of the Phramongkutklao Hospital bombing last year. So far, for four bombings and an explosive cache, Watana has received prison sentences of 111 years and six months plus fines of 1,475 baht. He has two other cases to go.

Tossed: By the military court, a lese majeste case against Sulak Sivaraksa. The charge was described by sane people as “dumbest ever”. Mr Sulak was charged, by police, in the military court, with insulting King Naresuan the Great. He warned a seminar, in 2014, that people should approach the reported elephant-back battle won by the king with academic curiosity. He also refused to apologise.

Returned: By the Supreme Court, the military rank of Lt Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was forced to become a politician. Lt Abhisit was cashiered in 2012, 23 years after leaving service as a weekend warrior. The court did not say that the whole was a Pheu Thai-Democrat argy bargle but it was. It also involved a former police lieutenant colonel in Dubai.

Injured: When their speedboat to the Phi Phi islands exploded in the Andaman Sea, 14 Chinese tourists and two crewmen. The incident began when the boat captain went to investigate a gasoline leak near the centre of the boat after he had picked up 26 Chinese from Phuket. An explosion and fire sank the boat in minutes. There were no deaths but six of the injured were in serious condition.

Announced: By the Prime Minister’s Office as a carrot to get high-quality technology talent to stick around, a new four-year “smart visa”. It is targeted at investors and executives making or dumping at least 200,000 baht a month into tech industries, but including next-gen vehicles and the medical-wellness industry and agriculture. The announcement estimated “no more than 1,000” foreigners would qualify.