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The Criminal Court sentenced Paiyap Panket, former UDD leader, and Petchwarat Wattanapongsirikul, former Pheu Chart Party list MP, to five years in prison on terrorism charges, while dismissing Section 112 charges.
At 10:00 a.m. on 9 Feb 2026 GMT+7 at the Criminal Court, the court heard verdicts in case numbers 3306/2024 and 3332/2024, in which the public prosecutor was the plaintiff. The prosecution charged Petchwarat Wattanapongsirikul, former Pheu Chart Party list MP (defendant 1), and Paiyap Panket, former UDD leader and former Pheu Thai Party list MP (defendant 2), with offenses including defamation, insult, or expressing malice against the King, Queen, and Crown Prince; accumulation of armed forces or weapons; procuring or collecting assets; receiving or providing terrorism training; conspiracy to commit terrorism; inciting the public to participate in terrorism; or knowing of terrorism and assisting in concealment.
In these two separate cases against defendants 1 and 2, the court consolidated the proceedings. The prosecution alleged that from April to 15 August 2010, the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) held protests. The government then used military force to disperse the protests. Afterward, UDD leaders including the two defendants and others allegedly recruited and jointly participated in weapons training in Siem Reap, Cambodia, preparing to commit terrorism in Thailand. Their aim was to create chaos and fear among the public and to pressure the government. This involved accumulating armed forces or weapons, procuring or collecting assets, receiving or providing terrorism training, preparing other acts, conspiring to commit terrorism, inciting public participation, or knowing about terrorism and assisting in concealment. Additionally, the defendants allegedly made defamatory statements damaging to the monarchy. The prosecution requested penalties under Criminal Code sections 83, 91, and 132.
The Criminal Court reviewed the evidence from both sides and found that the prosecution’s witnesses regarding defamation, insult, or malice against the monarchy gave contradictory testimonies during investigation and court proceedings, without other supporting evidence to eliminate reasonable doubt. Therefore, the court gave the benefit of the doubt to both defendants pursuant to Criminal Procedure Code section 227, paragraph two.
Regarding the terrorism charges under Criminal Code section 135/2(2), the prosecution’s witnesses who underwent weapons training testified consistently and credibly that training occurred in Cambodia. Although the defendants were not shown to have directly recruited participants, they played roles in ideological agitation, mental preparation, providing accommodation, funding, and visiting trainees. These acts constituted assistance or facilitation in accumulating armed forces or weapons and terrorism acts. The defendants were thus found guilty as supporters under Criminal Code sections 135/2 and 86.
The court ruled that both defendants were guilty under Criminal Code sections 135/2 and 86 and should receive the same punishment as the principal offenders under section 135/3. Both were sentenced to five years in prison. The court acquitted them of defamation, insult, or malice charges against the monarchy.
After the verdict, both defendants filed bail requests with collateral, which remain under court consideration.
Later at 6:40 p.m. on the same day, Petchwarat Wattanapongsirikul, former Pheu Chart Party list MP (defendant 1), and Paiyap Panket, former UDD leader and former Pheu Thai Party list MP (defendant 2), submitted requests for temporary release pending appeal.
The Criminal Court ordered that defendants 1 and 2 had previously been granted bail during trial, and no flight risk was evident. Therefore, the court allowed bail pending appeal with a 300,000 baht bond each. Conditions include a travel ban outside the Kingdom without court permission and notification to the Immigration Bureau.