7 Thais held in Myanmar since July freed: panel member

7 Thais held in Myanmar since July freed: panel member

Published on Saturday, 01 December 2012 09:25

Seven Thais sentenced to several years' imprisonment in Myanmar for forest encroachment and weapons possession were released yesterday, according to a local official.

They were among 92 Thais arrested in early July in Kawthaung, a Myanmar border town opposite Thailand's southern province of Ranong.

Colonel Uthis Anantananont, deputy commander of Army Task Force 25 and chairman of the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee, said he had been informed by Myanmar officials on the panel that authorities in the country had released the seven Thais.

Uthis was to take the Thais back to Thailand from Kawthaung later yesterday. All of them are men, with ages ranging from 29 to 60.

The seven men who were released were each sentenced to 10 years and six months in jail for illegal entry into Myanmar, forest encroachment and possession of war weapons.

Two Thais who had been in the same group as the seven men, but were found guilty of drug possession, will remain imprisoned in Myanmar - a 49-year-old woman from Surat Thani and 52-year-old man from Chumphon - after their jail terms were increased to 25 years and 28 years, respectively.

The 92 Thais were all initially sentenced to three years and six months in jail.

However, some of them were later found to have possessed military-grade weapons and drugs, and their terms were increased.

Most of those arrested for illegal entry have already been released.

Source: The Nation

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2012/12/01/7-thais-held-in-myanmar-since-july-freed-panel-member/