Sondhi convicted for libel, sentenced with two-year imprisonment
By The Nation
The Criminal Court on Thursday found media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul guilty for defaming
former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula and sentenced him to serve two years in jail.
The court cited Sondhi as a repeat offender for libel to refuse to grant him leniency for a suspended jail term.
In its ruling, the court said Sondhi made wild accusations against Pridiyathorn with the aim to sway the public sentiment but had no evidence to back up his remarks.
Reacting to his verdict, Sondhi said he will fight for an overturn in the appellate review. He has sought a temporary release pending the filing of his appeal within 30 days.
As pliantiff, Pridiyathorn argued that Sondhi had smeared him by linking him to the old power clique, a reference to the ousted government led by ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Sondhi made his news commentary that Pridiyathorn was trying to whitewash the wrongdoing committed by the ousted government.
As examples of the whitewash scam, he cited Pridiyathorn's involvement in the attempt to revive the two-and three-digit lotteries and in protecting former tax chief Sirote Sawasdipanich who was linked to facilitating Thaksin's share transactions.
Sondhi's remarks were published in the Manager newspaper and circulated in the Internet by ThaiDay Dot Com. Both outlets are part of his media empire.
As accomplice to circulate inflammatory remarks, newspaper editor Khunthong Loseriwanit was given a two-year suspended jail term and pay a fine of Bt30,000.
The court also ordered the defence to publish an apology for Pridiyathorn in daily newspapers for five consecutive days.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09 ... 111940.php
Sondhi convicted for libel
Of all the annoying things about the legal system here, this is the most disturbing and most ridiculous to me... "face". One of the most powerful laws in this country is the defamation law because of the Asian "face" thing.
It's easier to get away with murder than it is to get away with saying something bad about somebody in a public way even if what you say about them is true (which I'm not saying is the case here, just musing about one of the most frustrating legal anomalies of this, and surrounding countries).
I've seen ridiculous lawsuits here filed by absolute criminals against people who publicly told the truth about horrible things they have done and the criminal can win the suit because of this ridiculous law and culture of saving "face".
Shouldn't this protection be reserved for those with "honest face"?
It's easier to get away with murder than it is to get away with saying something bad about somebody in a public way even if what you say about them is true (which I'm not saying is the case here, just musing about one of the most frustrating legal anomalies of this, and surrounding countries).
I've seen ridiculous lawsuits here filed by absolute criminals against people who publicly told the truth about horrible things they have done and the criminal can win the suit because of this ridiculous law and culture of saving "face".
Shouldn't this protection be reserved for those with "honest face"?
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
