The Second Circuit Court of Appeal upheld the 5-year prison sentence for the caregiver who switched children, abducting a child from her mother. Bail was posted, and the court awaits the Supreme Court's ruling.
At Pattaya Provincial Court, Chonburi Province, at 13:30 on 8 May, the court read the verdict of the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in case number A 900/2024 (black) and A355/2025 (red). The Pattaya Provincial Prosecutor's Office, as plaintiff, along with Ms. Mayuree Wongkraso as co-plaintiff, filed charges against Mrs. Wisuda (also known as Som Satja) for abducting a child under 15 years old from her parent, guardian, or caretaker for profit.
The prosecution stated that between November 2022 and February 2023, on unspecified dates, the defendant unreasonably abducted a 1-year-old girl, referred to as Miss A (pseudonym), from her mother Ms. Mayuree Wongkraso, for the purpose of profit through buying, selling, and exchanging the child. The incident occurred in Nong Plalai Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
The defendant initially denied the charges but later withdrew her previous statement and confessed before the prosecution's evidence was presented. The Pattaya Provincial Court, as the trial court, found the defendant guilty under Section 317, paragraph three of the Penal Code and sentenced her to 10 years in prison. Considering her confession as a mitigating factor, the court reduced the sentence by half under Section 78 of the Penal Code, resulting in a 5-year imprisonment without suspension.
Subsequently, the defendant appealed, citing that she has several children to care for and requested the court to impose a lighter sentence.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeal reviewed the case and deliberated on whether the sentence should be reduced from the lower court's ruling. The court found the defendant’s involvement in buying and exchanging children for profit to be a serious offense. The initial sentence, already reduced as a concession to the defendant, was deemed appropriate. The defendant’s personal circumstances were considered insufficient grounds for further leniency, as others in similar situations also bear such burdens. The appellate court agreed with the lower court’s sentence and dismissed the appeal.
Afterward, Mrs. Wisuda’s relatives submitted a bail request accompanied by 25,000 baht cash collateral and electronic monitoring (EM) equipment for temporary release during the appeal process.
The Pattaya Provincial Court reviewed the request and decided to forward it to the Supreme Court for consideration. Following this, correctional officers transferred Mrs. Wisuda to prison custody to await the Supreme Court’s decision on bail.
/related news/ or "Related news" (no further text given) - Translation not applicable.