The Appeals Court on Wednesday upheld the Criminal Court's sentence of a year in prison, suspended for two years, for each of three United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leaders, and a fine of 50,000 baht, for defaming former Democrat Party MP Watchara Phetthong.
Mr Watchara filed a lawsuit in 2012 against Veerakan Musikapong, Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikuar, alleging the three said on the television show Truth Today on Nov 27, 2009 that he reprinted a book with the intention of tarnishing the reputation of former prime minister Samak Sundaravej after his death.
The allegation prompted red shirts to gather at the Democrat Party head office, intimidating him and ruining his reputation, Mr Watchara said in the lawsuit.
In fact, the book was published on March 23, 2008, before Mr Samak’s death, and had never been reprinted, the lawsuit said.
On Sept 22, 2015, the Criminal Court found the three UDD leaders guilty and sentenced them to one year in jail and a fine of 50,000 baht each. The court also ordered the three to pay Mr Watchara 600,000 baht in damages. The jail term was suspended for two years.
The Appeals Court today upheld the lower court's judgement.
Mr Jatuporn was escorted by Corrections Department officials from Bangkok Remand Prison to the court to hear the ruling. He was put in jail yesterday after breaking bail conditions in a terrorism case related to the 2010 protests.
Mr Nattawut said he would consult his lawyer before deciding whether to appeal to the Supreme Court.
He said he talked to Mr Jatuporn while in the courtroom. The UDD chairman was still physically and mentally healthy, he said.
"He told me he slept well last night," Mr Nattawut said.