Thread: Two convicted Cambodians set free after illegally trespassing in Thailand

Two convicted Cambodians set free after illegally trespassing in Thailand
วันพฤหัสบดี ที่ 13 ม.ค. 2554



UBON RATCHATHANI, Jan 13 - Two Cambodians have been released after a Thai court sentenced them to two-year suspended jail terms for illegally trespassing into Thailand while they were collecting forest products.

Ubon Ratchathani Governor Prawat Ratirom accompanied two Cambodian villagers from Preah Vihear province to the Chong Sangam border crossing in Sisaket province to hand over the two Cambodian nationals to Preah Vihear deputy governor Sor Thavy who was waiting to receive them.

Both men were arrested by Thai soldiers as they collected forest products in the Phanom Dong Rak Mountain Range near Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province on Dec 29.

They were charged with illegally entering the Thai kingdom and were sentenced on Thursday to two months prison but the jail term was suspended and they were fined Bt2,500 each.

Mr Prawat said Preah Vihear Governor Oum Mara coordinated with him to help the two Cambodians.

They were set free as they did not intend to trespass into Thai territory but they became lost and their detention period exceeded the fine, according to the Thai governor.

Mr Prawat said the two Cambodian nationals were released to demonstrate Thailand’s sincerity and establish positive relations between Thai and Cambodian local authorities.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the release of the two Khmers has nothing to do with the Cambodian court agreeing to grant bail for two of seven Thais detained in Phnom Penh charged with trespass into Cambodia territory.

He said it was the co-incident not the exchange of prisoner deal between the two countries.

The Cambodian court on Thursda allowed Mr Panich Vikitsreth, MP for Bangkok and Naruemol Chitwaratana of the People’s Network Against Corruption and Santi Asoke networks, to be temporary freed under bail.

The seven were arrested Dec 29 by the Cambodian authorities for illegal entry into Cambodia in Banteay Meanchey province and are now detained in Phnom Penh's Prey Sar Prison.

mcot.net

LOL!

Normally they'd just shoot them.

Now why didn't they do that this time?

Now there's a turn up for the books?

don't look like your average mush-room hunters.

วันเสาร์ ที่ 15 ม.ค. 2554

Thailand deports 199 illegal Cambodians working without work permits in Bangkok, no legal action against them, but sent them back through Sa Kaeo border checkpoint

mcot.net

199 Cambodians expelled after illegally entering Thailand
วันเสาร์ ที่ 15 ม.ค. 2554



SA KAEO, Jan 15 -- A total of 199 Cambodians charged with entering Thailand illegally and working in the Thai capital of Bangkok were deported Saturday, Thai immigration officials said.

The deportees including 120 men, 61 women, 10 boys and 8 girls travelled by cars past a Thai border village in Aranyaprathet district opposite the Cambodian border town of Poi Pet.

All were charged with entering Thailand illegally and working in Bangkok, but they were not sentenced.

The two neighbouring countries have an agreement to deport their citizens on charges of illegally entering the country without sending them for a court trial.

Meanwhile, a number of Cambodian traders and others crossed the border in Aranyaprathet district early Saturday, while Thai gamblers and tourists crossed in Poi Pet to gamble at casinos there amid tight security imposed by Thai border police along the border in the district.

Tight security has been imposed by Thai border patrol police after the arrest of seven Thai citizens by Cambodian troops on Dec 29 on illegal entry into Cambodian territory. Two have been granted bail while the rest remain imprisoned.

mcot.net

Originally Posted by Mid

The two neighbouring countries have an agreement to deport their citizens on charges of illegally entering the country without sending them for a court trial.

Govt sends back 199 Cambodians

ABHISIT DENIES APPEASING PHNOM PENH
16/01/2011

The government has sent 199 Cambodians facing illegal entry charges back home without further court procedures, but denies it is trying to send a message to Phnom Penh in its row over the seven Thai detainees.


TRUCKED OUT: Cambodian immigrants wait for repatriation back to their homeland at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok yesterday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also put on hold a planned visit to Phnom Penh by Democrat Party members amid concerns that the trip could be viewed negatively by Cambodia.

The 199 Cambodians _ 120 men, 61 women, and 18 children _ were arrested by immigration police in Bangkok after illegally entering Thailand to work in the capital.

They were sent back yesterday through the border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo, opposite Poipet town in Banteay Meanchey province of Cambodia.

Aranyaprathet immigration police chief Pol Col Manad Sriwongsa said none have been prosecuted under a repatriation agreement between the countries.

Another two Cambodians charged with illegal entry were freed and sent home on Thursday, the same day that two of the seven Thai detainees _ Democrat MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth and Narumol Chitvarattana _ were granted bail by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Although the timing of the dispatch of the 199 Cambodians coincides with government efforts to help the seven Thais, Mr Abhisit yesterday denied that it was part of a campaign to appease its neighbour.

Some observers say the gesture could also be perceived as the government telling Cambodia that since it is prepared to send home Cambodians without court proceedings, Cambodia should do the same for the detained Thais.

Cambodia says it arrested the seven Thais on Dec 29 after they trespassed into the country.

Meanwhile, a group of Democrats yesterday cancelled plans to visit Mr Panich and the other Thais in Phnom Penh after Mr Abhisit said he opposed the idea.

In Phnom Penh, Pich Vicheka, one of two lawyers working for the Thai seven, said he hoped the court would decide whether to temporarily release the remaining five Thais still in detention at Prey Sar prison on bail on Tuesday. He put a second appeal for bail to the court last Friday after an earlier request was denied.

The five Thais are Veera Somkwamkid, a coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network; his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon; Samdin Lertbutr and Tainae Mungmajon of the Santi Asoke sect; and Kitchaponthorn Chusanasevi, Mr Panich's aide.

Mr Veera has asked for a Thai legal team led by ex-Buri Ram senator Karoon Sai-ngarm to help him and other Thais fight the charges against them.

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdee said Mr Karoon and his legal team must first seek approval from the Bar Association of Cambodia to represent them.

The Thai legal team is expected to meet the detainees at Prey Sar prison early this week. Relatives of the five detainees, including Khwan, who is Mr Veera's relative, will travel to Phnom Penh this week.

bangkokpost.com