"Lawyer Tum" has been released from prison and immediately embraced his family. He said life inside was not comfortable, with the first five months being very difficult. He is determined to continue fighting, aiming to win all cases at the appeals stage.
On 11 Jun 2026 GMT+7, the Criminal Court approved bail for Mr. Sittha Bieabangked, known as "Lawyer Tum," at one million baht in the "Jae Oi" case, with the condition that he must not travel abroad without permission, as previously reported.
Most recently, at Bangkok Remand Prison at 21:37 GMT+7, Lawyer Tum, wearing a white shirt under a suit jacket, left the prison. He immediately hugged his wife, children, and family who were waiting to receive him, then bowed to his senior relatives before stepping outside to give an interview to reporters.
As soon as he emerged, Lawyer Tum told reporters, "Hello, I’m Lawyer Tum, Sittha Bieabangked. Life inside prison was uncomfortable. My family was outside while my wife was inside. The first five months were very tough and depressing. Recently, things improved as I gathered evidence to fight my case. I have been fighting this case myself from inside prison. The police initially charged me with 10 counts, seven were dismissed, leaving three remaining. At the appeals stage, I will try to win every case. Regarding the 71 million baht, I never thought I was guilty because there are chat records proving it was money given for business purposes. As for the car issue, I will continue to fight. About the 39 million baht, I actually have key evidence stored away — chat messages showing that I was also deceived. Only my sister knows about this. Inside, I cannot do much, even though I think and seek ways. Without loving siblings, I might have no help. I still trust the justice system and will definitely keep fighting."
Lawyer Tum also said that he plans to take a short break before going to the DSI (Department of Special Investigation) to request an investigation into bid rigging involving a Deputy Prime Minister and major media outlets, for which he has full evidence. Regarding future plans, he said he has become a low-profile person due to being labeled a fraudster. It will take time until the appeals court rules. He has evidence to counter almost every point and will just wait for the right time. He expressed gratitude to the Criminal Court for granting bail, which he did not expect, and to the Civil Court for dismissing the asset seizure and returning all assets to him. Most importantly, he and his wife have spent 1 year, 7 months, and 4 days in prison. He thanked the prison for facilitating his legal defense and the Department of Corrections for ensuring their safety, treating them like any other inmates.
Mrs. Panita Bieabangked, nicknamed Duan, Lawyer Tum’s wife, revealed that at first, entering prison was confusing because she usually supports Lawyer Tum from home and had never been summoned even with a minor order, but now they were separated by arrest warrants. They had to adjust mentally, thinking that they just had to wait and that they had done nothing wrong. Their main concern was their three children. She said, "What we have to do is not let them worry about us, so they can focus on the case. We participated in activities, followed rules and regulations, and behaved well. Being a good person means you can live anywhere. After the court acquitted us and we returned to the prison, everyone was shocked and cried. We appreciate the good friendships inside."