The 4th Regional Appeals Court revised the case of Somrak Kamsing, sentencing him to 1 year and 12 months in prison without suspension for abducting a minor and acquitting him of attempted rape charges.
At 09:45 on 20 Oct 2026, Somrak Kamsing arrived at the 4th Regional Appeals Court to hear the verdict in a case involving a 17-year-old female. About 10 supporters accompanied him for moral support. After approximately 50 minutes of reading the verdict, the court amended the conviction for abducting a minor aged over 15 but under 18 for indecent purposes, with the minor consenting, under Section 319 (1). The total sentence amounted to 1 year and 12 months imprisonment without suspension.
For offenses under Section 283 bis, first paragraph, and Section 311, first paragraph, the court initially sentenced 1 year imprisonment but reduced it by one-third due to the defendant's helpful testimony, resulting in 8 months imprisonment. Combined with the abduction sentence, the total imprisonment is 1 year and 12 months.
Additionally, the appeals court ordered the first defendant to pay an extra 80,000 baht with 5% interest. Records show compensation funds had been deposited before the hearing, bringing total damages paid to 200,000 baht. The court acquitted the defendant of attempted rape charges but amended the conviction for abduction under Section 319 (1).
The case arose after a 17-year-old woman from Kalasin province filed a complaint against Somrak and others following an incident around 04:30 on 10 Dec 2023 at an entertainment venue in Khon Kaen Municipality. Somrak later met with investigators and denied the charges, stating he was unaware the woman was 17 years old at the time.
Subsequently, the Khon Kaen Provincial Prosecutor charged Somrak Kamsing and Pichet as defendants 1 and 2 with several offenses: jointly abducting a minor aged over 15 but under 18 from parents, guardians, or caretakers for indecent purposes with the minor’s consent; jointly taking a person aged over 15 but under 18 for indecent purposes even with consent; attempted rape using violence; and indecent acts against a person aged over 15 using violence. Both defendants denied the charges.
Previously, on 23 Jan 2025, the lower court sentenced the defendants to a combined 4 years and 8 months imprisonment, then reduced by one-third due to helpful testimony, resulting in 2 years, 13 months, and 10 days imprisonment with compensation ordered. After the lower court verdict, Somrak applied for bail pending appeal, which the Khon Kaen Provincial Court granted with bail set at 300,000 baht. The 4th Regional Appeals Court scheduled the verdict reading for 20 Oct 2026 under case numbers A.694/2567 and A.80/2568.
After the court session, plaintiff's lawyer Athiwat Niammeesri stated that the 4th Regional Appeals Court rendered a verdict in Somrak Kamsing’s case. While the lower court sentenced him to 2 years, 13 months, and 10 days imprisonment, the appeals court revised the sentence by acquitting him of attempted rape due to reasonable doubt. For abduction, the court sentenced him to 1 year and 12 months imprisonment and ordered an additional 80,000 baht in compensation to the victim and her family.
Regarding defendant 2, the appeals court upheld the lower court’s acquittal. The plaintiff’s legal team intends to file a further appeal specifically on the attempted rape charge, disagreeing with the appeals court’s ruling and maintaining their belief in the lower court’s finding of guilt on this point.
Athiwat added that the supreme court appeal will focus solely on defendant 1 since defendant 2’s acquittal has been confirmed by both courts. The 1 year and 12 months imprisonment sentence from the appeals court carries no special conditions. The plaintiff’s side will continue to contest the case at the supreme court, maintaining that the victim did not consent to the defendant’s actions and remains dissatisfied with this issue.