PPT was struck by a recent Prachatai report last weekend on the continuing court case on the Central World arson in May 2010. The South Bangkok Criminal Court has now scheduled 25 March as the date for its ruling in the case of the only remaining defendants, Saichon Phaebua and Phinit Channarong. Earlier, two juveniles were acquitted.
Phinit was arrested and charged with six others, “charged with robbery, use of arms against the authorities, and violating the Emergency Decree.” They have already been sentenced to six months “for violating the Emergency Decree, but were acquitted on the other charges, except one man who was found guilty of robbery and was given another three years in prison.”
Saichon was arrested about three weeks after the burning of Central World and claims “he was physically abused by the police during and after the arrest, and was forced to confess.” He has repeatedly stated that “he was not the same person as seen in a photograph submitted as evidence to the court by the prosecution, as he has a tattoo on his right arm as can be seen from a photograph taken when he was brought to a press conference by the police.” The photo at Prachatai seems to support him