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August 23, 2013

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Thai court imprisons 2 Iranians for bomb plot

A THAI court yesterday sentenced an Iranian man to life in prison and his compatriot to 15 years in jail for their roles in a botched bomb plot that was exposed last year when an accidental explosion blew apart the Bangkok villa where they were staying.

Israeli and Thai officials have said the plot was aimed at Israeli diplomats in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, though Iran denied the allegations and neither defendant was charged with terrorism or attempting to kill Israelis.

The court convicted and sentenced Saeid Moradi, 29, to life in prison for attempting to murder a police officer, possessing illegal explosives and causing explosions that damaged property and injured several civilians. It sentenced 43-year-old Mohammad Kharzei to 15 years in jail for possessing explosives.

The pair was detained in February 2012, shortly after a cache of homemade explosives accidentally blew apart their villa. Both claimed innocence, saying they had been unaware of the explosives in their home.

They were among five Iranians suspected to be involved in the blasts.

Defense lawyer Kittipong Kiattanapoom said he would consult with both men and their families to find out whether they want to appeal.

Moradi, a factory technician from Tehran and a former soldier, had faced a death sentence.

He lost parts of both legs as he tried to flee the villa on a crowded Bangkok street. He was carrying explosives from the house and dropped them in the street as police tried to stop him.

One police officer and five civilians were injured in the incident, including a taxi driver who drove his vehicle passing through one of the bombs Moradi had dropped onto the street.

 




 

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