Pubdate: Wed, 05 May 2004 Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand) Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2004 Contact: http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39 LAOTA, SON GET 16 MONTHS FOR HAVING ILLEGAL FIREARMS Court Rejects Drug Case Against Them Suspected drug baron Laota Saenlee and his two sons have been acquitted of drug charges, but he and one of his sons have been sentenced to one year and four months jail for illegal possession of firearms. Laota, 64, and his sons Wicharn, 28, and Sukkasem, 24, had been charged with drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms and radio transmitters. They were arrested on June 12 last year at their house in Chiang Mai. The three defendants were implicated by Somsak, alias Dam Pimpimai, another drug suspect, who had alleged that Mr Laota and his sons were involved in the heroin trade. He had accused the three of selling 336 grammes of heroin to a police undercover agent on May 16 last year. He claimed that Mr Laota had sold the drug for 200,000 baht. The Criminal Court saw inconsistensies in the testimonies of the witnesses and found the evidence weak. Mr Somsak and the police officers who appeared in court as prosecution witnesses made conflicting statements about the sting operation and the source of money which had been used to buy the drugs. The court dismissed the case to give the benefit of the doubt to the defendants. However, it found Mr Laota and Mr Sukkasem guilty of illegal possession of firearms and sentenced them to two years in jail. The sentence was commuted to one year and four months because the defendants confessed to the charges. Mr Wicharn, the other defendant, was acquitted of all charges. Rerm Chao-angthong, Laota's lawyer, said Mr Laota's relatives were satisfied with the ruling and would not lodge an appeal. Mr Somsak has been accused of making false allegations. A source said Mr Laota's relatives had given amulets made from chicken bones to Mr Laota and his sons before they went to the courtroom to hear the verdict. They believed the amulets would help the defendants escape punishment. The three will remain in detention pending the prosecution's appeal. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D