Bomb-making material earns Swedish man jail term
The Nation September 19, 2013 1:00 am
Bangkok's Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court yesterday sentenced a Swedish man of Lebanese-descent to two years and eight months in jail for possessing without permission almost three tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which could be used for bomb-making.
The court heard that, following an Israeli warning that members of a Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, planned to enter Thailand and plant bombs at various locations, Thai officials arrested 49-year-old Atris Hussein on January 10, 2012.
They seized the ammonium nitrate at his rented house. Hussein denied the charges and claimed the material belonged to a foreign friend and was to be exported later.
The court found Hussein guilty and initially gave him a four-year imprisonment term, but reduced the sentence due to his useful testimony.
Hussein, hugging his wife and daughter, said he was content with the ruling. Hussein's lawyer Wittaya Buranasila said they would appeal for his acquittal.
