The Criminal Court has sentenced 5 vendors to prison without suspension for 6 months to 1.5 years for selling face masks above the price limit. The seized items ranged from 125 to 4,000 pieces. The court ruled that they took advantage of the public during the virus outbreak. Two vendors with smaller quantities received suspended sentences and fines.

Today (March 19, 2020), the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road, along with the Economic and Resource Prosecutor's Office, brought Ms. Napisara Kosuk, Mr. Pongpan Somsut, Ms. Namfon Eysiri, Ms. Umaporn Munkong, Ms. Nitsara Maharuankwan, Ms. Thasaporn Chantanapithan, and Ms. Taw Treetevi as defendants to face charges for selling face masks, which are controlled goods, at excessively high prices or causing disruption to the market price, under the Price of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542, Sections 29 and 40.

This follows an afternoon when the Consumer Protection Crime Suppression Division (CPCSD) submitted the case files of the 7 defendants for selling face masks above the legal price limit to the prosecutor for consideration and subsequent court filing.

The prosecutor filed separate charges against each defendant, totaling 7 cases. The court heard the defendants' pleas, and all admitted their guilt. Ms. Umaporn had 4,000 green face masks in her possession and sold them above the price limit. The court sentenced her to 3 years in prison, which was halved due to her confession, resulting in a sentence of 1 year and 6 months.

Ms. Taw had 750 face masks and was sentenced to 2 years in prison, reduced to 1 year for her confession.

Ms. Namfon had 125 face masks, Mr. Pongpan had 150 face masks, and Ms. Napisara also had 150 face masks. Each was sentenced to 1 year in prison, reduced to 6 months for their confessions.

The court considered the circumstances of the case and found that the 5 defendants had exploited the severe outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, which created a global crisis. Medical personnel and the public urgently needed face masks, causing widespread distress. However, the defendants sold face masks above the legally set price limit, warranting immediate punishment without suspension.

As for Ms. Thasaporn, who had 50 face masks, and Ms. Nitsara, who had 8 face masks, they were each sentenced to 1 year in prison and fined 50,000 baht, which was halved to 6 months in prison and a fine of 25,000 baht each, considering their small quantities and clean records, allowing them to have their sentences suspended for 2 years.

Following this, the correctional officers will take the 5 defendants, who received non-suspended sentences, to be detained at the Bangkok Special Prison and the Central Women’s Correctional Institution.

Thank you for the information from news.thaipbs.or.th/content/290006