7 imprisoned for selling over-priced face masks
Yesterday, at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road, the prosecutor of the Economic and Resource ‘Litigation 2’ filed 7 lawsuits with the court for selling masks at an unreasonably high price. The 7 defendants were caught during a government crackdown on overpriced protective gear following the out break of the Coronavirus.
The defendants’ testimony has been examined and all the defendants have pleaded guilty. The court saw that 5 out of the 7 defendants had seized the opportunity from the Coivid-19 virus crisis to take advantage of the situation. The court found 5 of the defendants guilty for selling overpriced medical masks.
“It is appropriate to punish all five now.”
The court filed all 5 penalties…
- Ms. Umaphon possession of masks and sold over 4,000 pieces. The court sentenced 3 years in prison, however the defendant pleaded guilty, therefore commuted the penalty by half and imprisonment for 1 year 6 months.
- Miss Tawao in possession of 750 masks, sentenced to 2 years in prison, however the defendant pleaded guilty therefore commuted the punishment by half to 1 year imprisonment.
- Miss. Nam Fon, in possession of 125 masks, sentenced to 1 year in prison, however defendant pleaded guilty, therefore commuted half the penalty, the court commuted the sentence for 6 months.
- Mr. Pongphan, in possession of 150 masks, sentence to 1 year in prison. However the defendant pleaded guilty, the court commuted the sentenced to 6 month in prison.
- Ms. Napha Isara in possession are 150 masks, sentence to 1 year in prison. However the defendant pleaded guilty, the court commuted the sentenced to 1 year in prison.
The penalties for all 5 defendants shall be effective immediately without waiting for parole.
For the 6th defendant, Mrs. Tassaphon, who had 50 masks, and the 7th defendant Ms. Nisara, who has 8 masks, the court sentenced each with 1 year of imprisonment and fined them 50,000 baht. The two defendants pleaded guilty, so the court reduced the penalties by 50%.
SOURCE: Siamrath
