Appeal Court rules 2 red shirts not guilty in 2010 arson at Bangkok shopping mall

The Appeal Court on Thursday affirmed the decision of the Court of First Instance to acquit two red-shirt supporters who were accused of committing arson at the Central World shopping plaza during the 2010 political violence in Bangkok. 
 
The public prosecutor accused Saichon Paebua, 32, and Pinit Channarong, 30, of committing arson at the Central World shopping plaza at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong shopping district, killing Kittipong Somsuk, a red-shirt supporter who was hiding in the mall.  
 
Pinit when he was detained by the police on 19 May 2010
 
They were jailed for about three years before the Court of First Instance acquitted them in 2013, saying that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was too weak. 
 
Two teenagers were also charged with committing arson, but the Juvenile Court found them not guilty in December 2012 and the public prosecutor decided not to appeal. 
 
Winyat Chatmontree, the lawyer who represented the defendants, said he will draft a letter asking the prosecutor not to appeal to the Supreme Court since the Appeal Court affirmed the decision of the Court of First Instance. 
 
Saichon and Pijit said they had attended red-shirt rallies a few times.  
 
 

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