Former Pheu Thai MP sentenced to prison for corruption

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders sentenced Somying Buabut, a former Pheu Thai MP, to three years and four months in prison and fined her 100,000 baht for corruption related to the construction of a futsal field. The sentence has been suspended for three years.

Yesterday, September 5, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on case number AM.18/2565 against Somying Buabut along with 11 other individuals. The charges stem from the fraudulent allocation of budgetary funds during the 2012 fiscal year to the Office of the Educational Service Area in Amnat Charoen province. The funds were misused in the procurement process for the construction and equipment of a sports field, specifically a futsal field.

The court found that the procurement process was manipulated to favour a particular bidder, ensuring they secured the contract with the government agency. Furthermore, the construction of the sports field did not meet the required standards, rendering it unusable.

The defendants in this case include Somying Buabut, a former MP from the Pheu Thai Party, Chinapat Bhumrat, a former Secretary-General of the Basic Education Commission, and Adul Kongthong, a former Director of the Amnat Charoen Primary Educational Service Area Office.

Other defendants include the partnership G.O.O.D, Anucha or Nontachit Wongmanee, TVN Technology Co., Ltd., Pornpen Piromkit, YEE Co., Ltd., Yee Phanichya, Sport and Game Co., Ltd., Benjapan Boonbongkan, and Pipat Kalphat.

The court’s ruling sentenced Somying Buabut to three years and four months in prison and fined her 100,000 baht (US$3,000). Chinapat Bhumirat received a sentence of five years in prison and a fine of 150,000 baht (US$4,500).

Several other defendants, including Anucha Wongmanee, Pornpen Piromkit, Yee Phanichya, and Benjapan Boonbongkan, were sentenced to two years in prison and fined varying amounts. The partnership G.O.O.D, TVN Technology Co., Ltd., YEE Co., Ltd., and Sport and Game Co., Ltd. were each fined 22,467,500 baht (US$670,440), reported KhaoSod.

The court suspended the sentences of Somying Buabut, Chinapat Bhumirat, and Pornpen Piromkit for three years due to their cooperation during the trial. The sentences for Anucha Wongmanee, Pornpen Piromkit, Yee Phanichya, and Benjapan Boonbongkan were reduced to one year and four months, with fines of 14,978,333.33 baht each (US$446,850). Pipat Kalaphat was sentenced to two years in prison. The charges against Adul Kongthong were dismissed.