The Criminal Court yesterday sentenced the former Phra Buddha Isara to a suspended 18-month jail term for illegally detaining plainclothes police during a 2014 anti-government protest.
Suwit Thongprasert, the 59-year old former abbot of Wat Or Noi in Nakhon Pathom province and political activist, had pleaded guilty last month.
Suwit led a protest against then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok's Laksi district from November 2013 to May 2014, which was part of the "Bangkok Shutdown" -- a coordinated siege of some key city areas led by Suthep Thaugsuban, who headed the People's Democratic Reform Committee mass protests.
On Feb 11, 2014, the former monk's guards arrested and detained Pol Sub Lt Somkid Choeikamol and Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wachirapong Oonnualburapong. The two plainclothes policemen were assaulted and lost 60,900 baht worth of personal possessions, the court was told.
Suwit was aware that his men had detained the two policemen for hours but did not order their release.
Pol Sub Lt Somkid suffered broken ribs and a ruptured liver, while Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wachirapong suffered bruising and broken teeth.
Suwit, earlier released on bail of 200,000 baht, arrived at the Criminal Court in a wheelchair and was greeted by dozens of supporters. It was reported that he suffered from a herniated disc.
The prison term was commuted from three years to one year and six months because he confessed, and then suspended for a year because he had never previously committed a crime and had compensated the victims, who did not want to pursue further legal action against him.
After the ruling, Suwit said he would re-enter monkhood on Dec 1, but he did not say where, or whether he would resume any political activity.
