Court upholds 20-year jail term for soldier-killer cop
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a guilty ruling against a police sergeant, sentencing him to 20 years in prison for the deadly shooting of a soldier in Chatuchak district in March 2008.
According to the court’s ruling, Pol Sgt Prasart Jantima, then a policeman attached to Prachachuen station, did not shoot the victim, Private First Class Chaiwut Prasomsri, in self-defence as claimed. The Supreme Court therefore stood by the Appeals Court’s guilty ruling and the 20-year term imposed.
The Criminal Court had found Pol Sgt Prasart guilty of premeditated murder and handed down the death penalty. The Appeals Court, however, ruled the shooting was not planned and changed the death sentence to a 20-year jail term.
Prosecutors said the shooting took place on March 11, 2008 following a quarrel between Pol Sgt Prasart and the victim over the arrest of vendors selling counterfeit CDs.
Pvt FC Chaiwut, who was attached to the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters’ Support Services Department, intervened during the arrest out of concern the vendors were being harassed because the arresting officer did not wear uniform.
Prosecutors and the soldier’s wife, Sgt Nokkaew Prasomsri, appealed to the Supreme Court, asking it to reinstate the death penalty for Prasart.
Pol Sgt Prasart asked the court to dismiss all charges against him, claiming the incident was self-defence.
The Supreme Court ruled the shooting was not self-defence, but nor was it premeditated.