Court cuts teacher’s jail term

The Appeals Court yesterday reduced the one-month prison term given to a Thammasat University lecturer for contempt of court to one month in detention.

Sudsa-nguan Suthisorn, of Thammasat Universty’s faculty of social administration, was charged with contempt of court along with Darunee Kritboonyalai and Picha Wijitsilp, a lawyer for the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, for laying a wreath and holding up placards in front of the Civil Court on Feb 21, 2014.

The act was allegedly intended to criticise the court’s performance.

The Criminal Court adjourned the proceedings against Ms Darunee, who failed to show up to fight the case, and issued a warrant for her arrest. Sudsa-nguan and Picha were sentenced to two months each in prison. After confessing to the court, the two defendants’ jail terms were reduced by half — to one month without suspension.

But Picha died after the court delivered the verdict. Sudsa-nguan appealed.

The Appeals Court found no reason to suspend the one-month jail term and said Sudsa-nguan had graduated in law and criminology and should be well-informed about court procedures.

However, the sentence was softened to one month in detention under custody — a lighter penalty she will serve outside prison. A number of UDD supporters gathered in front of the Civil Court, where the Appeals Court’s ruling was read out, in a show of support for Sudsa-nguan.

Police from Phahon Yothin station and Metropolitan Police Divison 2 were deployed in areas around the court to maintain law and order amid the crowds.