Retrial sought in drug conviction

A retrial is being sought for a man serving a life sentence on drug charges after new evidence in his favour was looked at by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

In her written statement to the DSI, Niramol Jaisud said her husband Suchart was framed by fellow defendants during a trial of four men that began in 2003. Niramol told the DSI that the frame-up was the result of conflicts she had with political rivals in Surat Thani.

Suchat was initially condemned to death in two verdicts of the lower courts, and the sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in April 2010.

He was implicated in a deal involving a large amount of heroin packed up in 100 sticks by a fellow defendant, Sophon Sukthaworn, who said that Suchart had paid him Bt200,000 to deliver the heroin.

Suchat's death sentence was later commuted to a life term as part of a royal pardon.

The DSI said Niramol acquired evidence that showed the heroin sticks belonged solely to Sophon and that the prosecution's testimony was made up at the request of police detectives at Phanom Police Station.

Chief justice Thawee Prajuablarm of the Criminal Court said Niramol's statement and the DSI's recommendation has been forwarded to the Court of Appeals, which will make the final decision on a retrial. He admitted that retrials and the reopening of cases would inevitably affect the public image of the entire justice system.