Pubdate: Fri, 07 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 PROSECUTION EFFORT IN DRUG CASE LAUDED No Decision Yet On Laota Saenlee Appeal The public prosecution has done its best in the drug case against Laota Saenlee and his two sons, said Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana and Attorney-General Rewat Chamchalerm yesterday. On Tuesday, Laota, 64, and his two sons Wicharn, 28, and Sukkasem, 24, were acquitted of drug charges by the Criminal Court. However, Laota and Sukkasem were found guilty of firearms possession and sentenced to 16 months in jail. Mr Pongthep said yesterday that all state officials concerned had already tried their best to bring the three drug suspects to justice. The prosecution would review investigative reports and other relevant documents before deciding whether to appeal the court decision to acquit the three men. However, it was a common court practice to disallow presentation of any additional evidence in the same old case going to the Appeals and Supreme courts, he said. The justice minister admitted that police investigators might not be able to gather enough evidence to nail suspects in certain cases, despite their best efforts. Whether the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) would take legal action against the three suspects was a different matter from their court trial, he added. The Amlo could seize some of the suspects' assets for examination to see if they had been acquired with drug money or through any other legal means. Meanwhile, the attorney-general said he had studied a prosecution report on the drug case against Laota and sons, and ordered Thavorn Panichaphan, head of the Narcotics Litigation Department, to submit a copy of the court verdict for him to consider before deciding whether to appeal the acquittal verdict within 30 days. Mr Rewat said Laota was fighting another case in the Criminal Court for allegedly conspiring with former Lampang provincial councillor Phanom, or Ood, Sap-anek, to trade in drugs. The court had already set the day for examination of prosecution witnesses. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D