The sentences were halved to six years because all the officers pleaded guilty.
The six men had already pleaded guilty in four cases at Bangkok’s Criminal Court, but the judge’s sentence yesterday applied only to the lèse majesté and illegal casino cases.
The former policemen are also accused of taking bribes from oil smugglers and demanding bribes from CIB officers in exchange for promotions and transfers – to which they have also pleaded guilty.
The six were taken to the court from Bangkok Remand Prison on Ngam Wong Wan Rd after prosecutors filed the charges against them in three cases on Thursday (January 29).
In the first case, Pongpat, 58, and his former deputy, ex-Pol Maj Gen Kowit Wongroongroj, 59, were charged with lèse majesté, malfeasance and provision for gambling.
Prosecutors identified the Colonze gambling den, a large casino in Bangkok’s Wang Thong Lang district, which has since been closed.
On the lèse majesté charge, the duo allegedly put a Royal Crest pin on their epaulets and put a badge bearing the portrait of HRH Prince Rasmijoti Dhipankara, the son of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and former Princess Srirasmi, on their left pockets at all times, to indicate that the casino they were protecting had the backing of the palace.
In the second case, Pongpat, Kowit and ex-Pol Maj Gen Boonsueb Praithuen, 55, a former Marine Police chief, were charged with soliciting and accepting bribes, malfeasance and lèse majesté.
The indictment said some oil smugglers in the Gulf of Thailand paid Kowit, who then transferred the money to his boss, in exchange for not arresting them. The total amount received was B147.4 million.
The indictment also stated they committed lèse majesté because they wore police uniforms with a badge bearing HRH Prince Rasmijoti Dhipankara’s portrait on the pockets when they solicited the bribes.
Boonsueb also allegedly pointed to the badge and claimed the bribes would be submitted to their supervisor and then to the prince.
In the third case, Pongpat, Kowit and Pol Col Vutthichart Luensukan, 46, a former chief of the police Consumer Protection Division, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Surasak Channgao, 50, and Pol Snr Sgt Maj Chattrin Laothong, 48, were accused of receiving bribes for transfers and promotions at the CIB.
They demanded B3-5 million each from officers who wanted to be favoured. The officers then paid them in instalments ranging from B10,000 to B2 million a month.
After the judge read the charges, the six former policemen pleaded guilty to all charges. The court will hear prosecution witnesses in two other cases on February 23.
After Pongpat was arrested at the end of November last year, the country was riveted by pictures on TV and in the press of huge amounts of cash, gold and valuable art and religious objects found in safes and bricked into the walls of his eleven homes.