Pheu Thai duo guilty of libel

The Criminal Court yesterday found Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit and co-defendant Kiatudom Menasahwat guilty of libel and handed down one-year jail terms, suspended for two years as they were first-time offenders.

In its verdict, the court reprimanded the pair for failing to verify the information before holding a press conference to attack Constitution Court president Wasan Soypisudh on June 8, 2010.

The court said the pair had falsely and maliciously portrayed Wasan for lacking impartiality.

In addition to the suspended imprisonment, the pair were told to pay a fine of Bt50,000 and publish a summary of the verdict in three newspapers for seven days.

Reacting to his conviction, Prompong said he respected the judicial decision but he would seek an appellate review in a bid to overturn the ruling.

In a separate case, the Attorney General has postponed a lawsuit against Democrat MP and spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut and his deputy Mallika Boonmeetrakul for allegedly defaming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over remarks about the "Four Seasons scandal" as prosecutors have not finished their investigation report.