Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda, formerly the popular TV host of Channel 3's morning news programme, has lost his appeal of a 13-year, four-month jail term for his role in a bribery and embezzlement scandal.
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Appeals Court upholds Sorayuth's 13-year prison sentence
Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda, formerly the popular TV host of Channel 3's morning news programme, has lost his appeal of a 13-year, four-month jail term for his role in a bribery and embezzlement scandal.
The Appeals Court on Tuesday said it saw no reason to overturn the 2016 Criminal Court ruling.
Sorrayuth and his company, Rai Som, and two other defendants were found guilty of cheating the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand (MCOT) out of more than 138 million baht in advertising revenue during his news talk programme on Channel 9 in 2005 and 2006 by bribing an MCOT employee to conceal records of extra advertising.
He was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison and was released on bail.
Post Today reports that his lawyer is preparing a request for bail and Mr Sorayuth will then file an appeal with the Supreme Court.
Here is some additional information from our online reporters:
The case involves Mr Sorrayuth's company, Rai Som Co, and two other defendants, Rai Som employee Montha Theeradet and former MCOT Plc employee Pichapa Iamsa-ard, who was formerly known as Chanapha Boonto.
The Criminal Court in February 2016 sentenced Sorrayuth and Montha each to 13 years and four months in jail for supporting malfeasance by a government official. Pichapa was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Rai Som was fined 80,000 baht. The three defendants were released on bail of 2 million baht pending appeal.
