Reformist Thai MP Pita given suspended sentence over 2019 protest

A Thai court handed down two-year suspended jail sentences to ex-prime minister candidate Pita Limjareont and seven others over their involvement in a 2019 protest, their lawyer said Monday, the latest hurdle thrown against the progressive lawmaker.

Five years ago huge demonstrations mushroomed across the capital, led by the hugely popular Future Forward Party (FFP), urging reform and calling on ex-Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha to quit.

The case concerns one December 14 protest held for 40 minutes at a key Bangkok intersection, months before a court would dissolve the FFP, which Pita was a member of.

The ex-leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) which won the most seats in the 2023 election, was only recently reinstated as an MP.

The other defendants were FFP leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit — currently banned from politics — his ex-secretary Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, Nuttaa Mahattana, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Thanawat Wongchai, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, Pannika Wanich and Pairatthachote Chantharakachorn.

“A court ruled that the protest was organized without permission, blocked public space, and was within 150 meters from Pathumwan palace,” lawyer Krisadang Nootjaras told AFP.