The Supreme Court Wednesday sentenced 79 members of the now-defunct People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to jail for seizing control of the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) during protests against the Thaksin Shinawatra-backed government.
The court handed down jail terms of between three and eight months for 84 yellow-shirt security guards, known as the "Srivichai Warriors", for their raid on the state broadcaster during the early hours of Aug 26, 2008.
Seventy-nine defendants appeared to hear the sentence, while five others were absent and now face arrest warrants.
All at the court were taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison after the case was concluded.
Eighty-five men led by Thanate Khamchoom forced their way into the compound, allegedly damaged assets worth 600,000 baht, used force to prevent two TV news anchors from broadcasting and forced them to leave the station.
They were charged with criminal association and assembly of 10 or more people to commit acts causing unrest.
Thanate and Methee Uthong received the longest sentences -- eight months -- while six defendants received only a three-month suspended jail term as they were juveniles at the time the crimes were committed. All denied the charges.
They forced their way into the state-owned NBT building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road during the period of street protests by the PAD to topple the government led by then-prime minister Samak Sundaravej, which was backed by Thaksin.
