Two directors of his firm, Rai Som Co, received the same sentence – Angkhana Watthanamongkholsilp and Sukanya sae Lim – and a staff member, Montha Theeradet.
The court heard that from February 2005 to April 2006 Sorayuth’s company bribed an MCOT employee, Pichapa Iamsa-ard. She was paid more than B700,000 to not report to MCOT management TV commercials in excess of contracted advertising times on Sorayuth’s Khui Khui Khao news programme on MCOT’s Modernnine TV channel.
This action enabled Rai Som Co to withhold advertising revenue totalling B138 million that was due MCOT as its share.
Mrs Pichapa remains at large. The Criminal Court sentenced her to 20 years in prison in absentia.
Mr Sorayuth was present in court for the judgement. His lawyers were applying for release on bail for all defendants pending appeal.
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