Panich Vikitsreth has shaved his head in a Buddhist tradition to ask for forgiveness.
PHNOM PENH, Jan 21 -- The Cambodian court on Friday ruled that the five Thais were guilty of trespassing into Cambodian territory and sentenced them with nine-month suspended jail terms and fines of one million riel ($250), but since they have been behind bars since Dec 30, all are now free.
The judge said they could return home immediately but must not repeat the crime by trespassing on Cambodian territory in the future.
The five, including a member of parliament of Thailand's ruling Democrat party, have already left the court and went to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh waiting for documentation for returning to Thailand.
However, the two Thais who did not attend the court session on Friday were Veera Somkwamkid, coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, who is the sole detainee still being held in Prey Sar Prison and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, Mr Veera's secretary.
Both were charged with espionage on top of the trespassing charge and expected that the court would read the verdict on Feb 1 as earlier scheduled.
The five who were released on Friday were Panich Vikitsreth, the Democrat MP, Naruemol Chitwaratana, 2nd Lt Samdin Lertbutr, Tainae Mungmajon, and Kitchaponthorn Chusanasevi.
They petitioned the court to reschedule the date for delivering its verdict, saying that they wanted to return home and that they missed their families.
The court summoned them for additional testimony at 2pm and the authorities involved in their arrest were also questioned.
The Cambodian prosecutors also played back in court the video clips recorded as the seven walked along the border to support the allegation.
The seven were arrested Dec 29 by the Cambodian authorities for illegal entry into Banteay Meanchey province.
They faced two initial charges -- illegal entry into the Cambodian kingdom, with possible punishment of three to six months jail and deportation, and also trespassing on a Cambodian military zone, punishable by three to six months jail and Bt7,500-15,000 in fines, while the spying charges could result in five to 10 year imprisonment. (MCOT online
The five, including a member of parliament of Thailand's ruling Democrat party, have already left the court and went to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh waiting for documentation for returning to Thailand.
However, the two Thais who did not attend the court session on Friday were Veera Somkwamkid, coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, who is the sole detainee still being held in Prey Sar Prison and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, Mr Veera's secretary.
Both were charged with espionage on top of the trespassing charge and expected that the court would read the verdict on Feb 1 as earlier scheduled.
The five who were released on Friday were Panich Vikitsreth, the Democrat MP, Naruemol Chitwaratana, 2nd Lt Samdin Lertbutr, Tainae Mungmajon, and Kitchaponthorn Chusanasevi.
They petitioned the court to reschedule the date for delivering its verdict, saying that they wanted to return home and that they missed their families.
The court summoned them for additional testimony at 2pm and the authorities involved in their arrest were also questioned.
The Cambodian prosecutors also played back in court the video clips recorded as the seven walked along the border to support the allegation.
The seven were arrested Dec 29 by the Cambodian authorities for illegal entry into Banteay Meanchey province.
They faced two initial charges -- illegal entry into the Cambodian kingdom, with possible punishment of three to six months jail and deportation, and also trespassing on a Cambodian military zone, punishable by three to six months jail and Bt7,500-15,000 in fines, while the spying charges could result in five to 10 year imprisonment. (MCOT online
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