Mr Jirat’s lawyer later submitted a request for the former Chachoengsao MP’s temporary release on bail pending appeal. It was still under court consideration, reports the Bangkok Post.
The case dates back to early 2024 when questions arose about the legitimacy of the Sor Dor 43 certificate shown on the Matichon TV programme “The Politics” and posted on social media by Mr Jirat, 37, as proof of his exemption from military service.
The Royal Thai Army was asked to investigate.
Lt Gen Taweepool Rimsakorn, then commanding general of the Territorial Defence Command (TDC), assigned a judge advocate officer to file a complaint with investigators at Prachachuen police station accusing Mr Jirat of forgery and using a fake document.
The defendant denied all charges and was initially granted bail.
After reviewing testimony and evidence from both sides in October, the court found the defendant had failed to report for conscription, with records indicating he had repeatedly requested postponement from 2009 to 2012 while he was studying at Burapha University in Chonburi province.
The Bang Pakong district military office in Chachoengsao had summoned Mr Jirat, who changed his name from Nawarin, to report for conscription in 2012, but he avoided selection, resulting in a previous sentence of one month in prison, which had been suspended.
In its judgement yesterday the court noted that Mr Jirat failed to present an original of his military exemption certificate, knowing he had never undergone the selection process. The defendant, as a former MP and a member of the House Military Committee, should have been fully aware of the facts and the law on this issue, the court said.
While Mr Jirat was the sole witness in his defence, the complainant had six army officers who presented credible evidence, it said.
The court ruled that the defendant’s actions harmed the Ministry of Defence, the public and national security, and were in breach of the Computer Crime Act. The court imposed the maximum sentence of two years in prison without suspension. The other charges were dismissed.
Before entering the court room, Mr Jirat said he was confident in his defence and insisted he had not forged the Sor Dor 43, arguing that the prosecutors were unable to explain how the document was forged. The certificate contained both signatures and official stamps, he said.
During the inquiry, eight or nine high-ranking officers gave testimony, although their presence was unnecessary in such cases, he said. Mr Jirat also questioned why his records were handled differently from other people’s. The evidential document presented by the complainant would normally have been destroyed after 10 years, he said.
Mr Jirat believed the case against him was politically motivated.
Mr Jirat was elected in Chachoengsao’s constituency 4 in 2019 under the banner of what was then the Future Forward Party. He was re-elected in the same constituency in 2023 as a candidate for the since dissolved Move Forward Party, which is now the People’s Party.
Prior to that he had taken part in parliamentary debates on military reform, military policies, the growing number of generals, military-run businesses and corruption in procurement linked to patronage networks.