JUDGE DEFENDS ACQUITTAL

Lack Of Evidence To Convict C-8 Official

The Criminal Court chief justice says the acquittal on drug
trafficking charges of a woman working in the cabinet secretariat was
above board.

Jirawat Charoenvanich, a C-8 official, was cleared because the
evidence against her was unclear, Judge Sombat Tiew-issaret said.

On Tuesday, the court acquitted Mrs Jirawat and another woman of
charges of methamphetamine trafficking, and passed the death penalty
on three other defendants in the caseChief Justice Sombat said no
funny business had taken place and police, prosecutors and judges had
done their best.

He, his deputy Sompong Hemwimol and other judges had studied a report
on the case and found there was inadequate evidence to prove Mrs
Jirawat guilty of possessing 114,215 speed pills, he said.

No drugs were found with Mrs Jirawat when she was arrested though the
woman's house was in the same compound as that of her younger
brother, Bundit Charoenvanich, who was given a death sentence.

Wichit Leethammachayo, a senior judge, said no-one was to blame for
the way Mrs Jirawat was cleared since everyone handling the case had
worked to their fullest capacity based on the rule of law.

The court could not order punishment unless there was clear evidence, he said.

Public prosecutors had the right to appeal within 30 days if they
disagreed with a verdict.

Mrs Jirawat was also acquitted of a charge of forging official
documents because there was no witness to tell the court that she had
falsified stickers allowing three vehicles to enter the Government
House compound.

Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun said police should make sure
that there was adequate evidence and witnesses to support their
findings before seeking trial of a suspect.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said police had admitted that the
probe report was not good enough to link the woman to other
defendants who stayed in the same place. Strict civil service
regulations could make it difficult for Mrs Jirawat to get back her
job.