The Martial Court in Chiang Rai Province early this week sentenced seven anti-coup protesters to six months in jail and a fine of 10,000 baht, but since the defendants pleaded guilty, the sentences were halved and the jail terms are suspended for one year.
On Monday and Tuesday, the Martial Court delivered verdicts in two cases. One involves three anti-coup protesters, led by Surirat Boonbuathong and another involved four anti-coup protesters led by Songsri Khomkam.
The Chiang Rai Martial Court
Surirat and Songsri are local red-shirt leaders in the province.
They were found guilty on charges of violating the Martial Law in holding a public assembly of more than five people.
On 25 May they held anti-coup activities at McDonald’s Chiang Rai Central Plaza branch, parallel to an anti-coup gathering at a McDonald’s at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong intersection.
Songsri led the gathering at noon. The military came and dispersed the protesters. Later in the evening, Surirat led the activity again at the fast food restaurant.
Earlier Sarawut Kulmaturapot, a Chiang Rai red-shirt supporter, was found guilty under the same charges and faced same sentences with suspended jail terms.
The protesters gathered at the fast food restaurant, wore masks with ‘X’ and showed anti-coup placards around noon of 25 May. About 30 minutes, later the military and police officers were deployed to the McDonald’s, forcing the protesters to stop the activity.
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