BANGKOK, Jan 21 (TNA) – The Supreme Court sentenced former TV news anchor Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda to 6 years and 24 months in jail for supporting malfeasance causing state-run media firm MCOT to lose 138 million baht in revenue over a decade ago.
Sorrayuth, 53, arrived at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in Bangkok at 8.45am to listen to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
He was found guilty of bribing former MCOT official Pichapa Iamsa-ard, 50, for about 600,000 baht paid through six cheques to conceal extra advertisements in his “Khui Khui Khao” news program on MCOT for 17 times from Feb 4, 2005 to April 28, 2006. The concealment caused MCOT to lose its advertising revenue shares worth altogether 138 million baht.
In the case, Pichapa was sentenced to 12 years in jail. Sorrayuth’s Raisom Co was fined 72,000 baht. Montha Theeradet, 46-year-old Raisom employee who carried out Sorrayuth’s assignment, was sentenced to 6 years and 24 months.
After hearing the ruling, Sorrayuth talked to his supporters at the court. They included former Channel 3 executive Pravit Maleenont as well as news anchors and series producers on TV Channel 3. (TNA)
