Two accomplices were spared the death penalty and sentenced to life imprisonment because they gave useful information at the interrogation stage.

On September 6 nine years ago, Pattama Fuangprayoon was killed in a bomb explosion while driving a Mercedes-Benz belonging to her husband. The couple's daughter, Komkhai Pollabutr, was a former Chanthaburi MP.

The intended target of what was then called a political assassination attempt was Pattama's husband, Sanit, a former Chanthaburi councillor.

Sanit, working with public prosecutors, pursued the case against the masterminds and assassins.

The Criminal Court yesterday convicted Prasong Sangchan, Ekasit Yoosuk, Sittiporn Kham-art and Staff Sergeant Nikom Chitkul for their roles in the death of Pattama.

Former Loei councillor Ekasit and Sittiporn, a former Chanthaburi MP, received the death penalty. Prasong and Nikom were sentenced to life imprisonment because the court took into account useful information given by them during interrogation.

In the trial, all four denied any wrongdoing.

Earlier, another accomplice, Kanokpol Yiamsaneh, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

There were two other accomplices in the case. One of them, Sopon Pattamanuch, is still on the run. The other, Staff Sergeant Songrit Tewanurak, committed suicide after public prosecutors decided to press charges against him rather than use him as a state witness. Songrit had confessed to the crime and gave useful information to investigators.

After the verdict was read, Ekasit and Sittiporn remained calm.

"It's okay," Sittiporn said as tearful relatives and friends tried to comfort him. His lawyer Nitichai Prommahasathaporn vowed to appeal the verdict based on a claim that Prasong and Nikom were forced to confess.

Komkhai said she was satisfied with the verdict after waiting for nine years and two months for justice to be done for her mother.

Kesinee Taengkhiew

The Nation