Court upholds ‘men in black’ jail terms

The Appeal Court yesterday upheld the 10-year prison sentences of two “men in black” shooters who fired at protesters and security forces during the political unrest in 2010.

Prison officials brought Kittisak Soomsri, 49, and Preecha Yuyen, 29, from the Bangkok Remand Prison to hear the decision on their appeal yesterday.

Both men — along with Ronnarit Suricha, 38; Chamnan Phakheechai, 50, and Punika Chusri, 44 — were charged with illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives and carrying them in public places without permission.

While the court upheld Kittisak and

Preecha’s sentences, it again acquitted the three other defendants.

The prosecution told the court that the five defendants and their accomplices carried firearms, ammunition and explosives — such as an M79 grenade launcher, an M16 rifle and an HK33 rifle — to Khok Wua intersection in Phra Nakhon district during the redshirt protest against the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration on April 10, 2010.

At that time, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) was staging demonstrations, which ran from Phra Pinklao Bridge to Khok Wua intersection to Phan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

The so-called “men in black” then appeared and opened fire on soldiers as well as protesters, resulting in the deaths of 26 people, including five soldiers and one Reuters journalist.

On Sept 11, 2014, police arrested the five defendants and handed them over to the Department of Special Investigation.

On Jan 31, 2017, the Criminal Court found Kittisak and Preecha guilty of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives and sentenced each to 10 years in jail.

The lower court had acquitted the rest of the defendants, but ordered them detained pending an appeal by the state. They were later released on bail.

While the Appeal Court upheld their acquittal, it ordered their detention, pending a decision on their bail request and the result of a state appeal to the Supreme Court.