The Criminal Court has handed down a suspended two-year jail term on red-shirt leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikuar for disclosing information acquired through illegal means.
Mr Nattawut (left) and Mr Jatuporn leave the court after hearing the sentence on July 22, 2014. - THITI WANNAMONTHA
It sentenced them on Tuesday morning to a jail term of three years and a fine of 60,000 baht.
Since both confessed, the penalty was commuted by a third and as both have never been imprisoned and one of the damaged parties did not wish to pursue the case, the jail term was suspended for two years and the fine reduced to 40,000 baht.
On June 22, 2007, both played recorded phone conversations to protesters on a United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship stage at Sanam Luang.
The sound clips involve a telephone conversation of Pol Maj Gen Prraphan Premabhuti, a former permanent secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, and Virat Chinvinichakul, a former secretary to the Supreme Court, and Pairoj Navanuj, an Appeal Court judge to the Supreme Court president's office.
Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nattawut refused to talk to reporters.
But Vinyat Chartmontri, their lawyer, said one of the damaged parties did not pursue the case because they understood the playback was intended to protect the country and the monarchy.
Both have not yet decided whether to appeal the case, he added.
Mr Vinyat also said the sentence today did not apply to Jakrapob Penkair, a former PM's Office minister who was also a co-defendant in the case.
The court dismissed the case against Mr Jakrapob after he fled.
During the ongoing political break, most red-shirt leaders still meet weekly for non-political activities such as playing football, said Mr Vinyat.