Court sentences Vatana Asavahem to ten years in jail

Vatana, 72, president of Pue Pandin Party, was sentenced in absentia because he has fled the country. 

"According to reliable intelligence reports, he is living in Cambodia," Deputy National Police Chief Jongrak Juthanont told the court.

The Court for political offences found Vatana guilty of abusing his power as deputy interior minister 16 years ago to force the illegal issuance of title deeds for 292 hectares of public land that was then sold at an inflated price to the Pollution Control Department to build a 23-billion-baht wastewater-treatment facility.

The scheme had to be halted because of opposition to the plant by the local community in Samut Prakan province.