Prakob Madadam, 43, Phoowarin Boonlieng, 18, and Songpol Klaimee, 20, were accused of human trafficking and exploitatation of 53 trafficked Rohingya including a minor when arrested on October 11 last year.
However, after reviewing the case, the judge decided that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the trial for selling, buying, or transporting the 53 Rohingya by any means such as threatening, forcing, kidnaping,fraud, abuse of power or taken minors.
A prosecutor in the case has said that one of the suspects had threatened and assaulted some of the trafficked Rohingya. However, when the four were called to the witness stand the prosecutor failed to question them on the issue.
Another dispute arouse during the trial regarding the age of one of the victims who was said to be a minor, and the only evidence to support that claim was a picture.
“It is difficult to say if the victim is 18 by looking at the picture, and we could not ask the 53 Rohingya, who do not speak Thai, if they have minors travelling with them or not.” said the judge.
However, the three men did admit to providing shelter, hiding and assisting the Rohingya from being arrested for which they were sentence to five year in prison, a sentence which was reduced to two years and six months due to their admission.