Phang Nga MP Loses Defamation Case But Avoids Jail

PHUKET: Pheu Thai Party spokesman Phrompong Nopparit, a frequent visitor to Phuket, was today sentenced to one year in jail and fined 50,000 baht for defaming a chief judge.

Because of Khun Phrompong's previous good behavior, the Criminal Court in Bangkok ruled that instead of serving a jail term, he could undertake to be of good behavior for two years.

The same ruling was made in the case of Pheu Thai MP Krit-Udom Manasawat.

The case was brought by the Chief Judge of the Constitutional Court, Wasan Soipisud, whose claim that the two MPs defamed him by alleging bias on June 8, 2010, was upheld.

The two MPs have seven days in which to publish apologies for the defamation in at least three newspapers.

Khun Phrompong, an MP for Phang Nga, has visited Phuket often since last year's election and has been a great supporter of improving tourism infrastructure and safety along the Andaman coast.