27 years in prison for Thai general involved in human trafficking.
Former Thai army general Manas Kongpan was among dozens of people convicted of trafficking Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims (Myanmar) in a trial in Bangkok.
 |
| General Manas Kongpan was arrested in 2015. Photo: Reuters |
According to the BBC, General Manas was convicted of human trafficking and transnational organized crime. He was previously in charge of apprehending illegal immigrants entering Thailand.
More than 100 defendants, including citizens of Myanmar and Bangladesh, appeared at the trial on July 19.
Another former Thai official was also sentenced to 75 years in prison for the same crime. The remaining defendants received sentences ranging from 4 to 94 years in prison.
The trial followed the discovery of mass graves of refugees in the jungle near the Thai-Malaysian border. The incident shocked Thailand, as many military officers, politicians, and police officers were implicated in the human trafficking ring.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has urged the public not to blame the military for human trafficking. “Many people are involved in this trafficking ring. Don’t lump all military personnel in the country together,” Chan-ocha was quoted as saying by the BBC.
According to TNO
