Attorney-General Julasing Wasansing
Of 907 national-security cases prosecuted in the nine years since the violence in the deep South flared up, only 31 have received a final ruling in the Supreme Court, according to a study released by the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) yesterday.
The study on the efficiency of the state's prosecution of national-security cases in the four southern border provinces, conducted by the Rajamangala Institute of Technology Southern Campus's Asst Prof Weerasak Tullayaporn and his team, was unveiled at an event yesterday presided over by Attorney-General Julasing Wasansing. The event was held to give prosecutors in the region a working guideline.
The study found that between 2004 and July 2012 there were 7,918 national-security cases. Of these, 4,686 cases were submitted to the provincial public prosecutor's offices, although only 1,394 of these were submitted along with the suspects. Indictments were issued in only 907 cases. The Primary Court sentenced the defendants for all charges filed in 206 cases, punished the defendants on only some charges in 108 cases, and acquitted the defendants in another 439 cases, while 154 cases remain before the court. The Appeals Court handed down rulings in 187 cases while the Supreme Court ruled in 31 (upholding the Appeals Court's ruling in 18 cases, acquitting in two cases, issuing entirely different rulings in two cases, changing sentences in seven cases and dismissing two cases), according to the study.
Julasing said the OAG, with assistance from the Asia Foundation, found that a key issue in national-security cases was a scarcity of witnesses. Hence, they had to use forensic evidence to investigate crime scenes. The OAG would seek to promote understanding among court officials, public prosecutors, police investigators and the public in investigations, using forensic principle to support witnesses.
"For the OAG, winning cases is less important than developing a mutual understanding between people and the state. Winning every case doesn't matter. What is important is that people understand the state and officials. If everyone [involved] establishes a good understanding, the cases wouldn't occur in the first place," he added.
Meanwhile, Wayoh Doloh, 50, a reporter for a "police" newspaper, was fatally shot yesterday at 8am by two men on a motorbike while he was riding a motorbike into Pattani town and was pronounced dead at a hospital in Pattani's Ma-Yor district. A police investigation found that Wayoh was shot and injured on a previous occasion three years ago. Officials suspected his shooting was relating to the insurgency in the region, as Wayoh had served as an informant.
Latest stories in this category
- Outcome won't affect talks: negotiator
- Whatever the outcome of today's general election..
- Crackdown on vendors continues
- Drug suspects killed in shootout
We Recommend
- White elephant caught on camera in Phetchaburi
- Apparent images of a much-sought-after white..
- Gold still solid investment, despite recent price..
- Reds urge mass rally at court
Comments conditions
Users are solely responsible for their comments.We reserve the right to remove any comment and revoke posting rights for any reason withou prior notice.
Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/05/05/very-few-cases-in-south-end-in-rulings/
0 comments:
Post a Comment