Friday, April 2, 2010

Sentencing postponed again in Bangkok film fest bribery scandal


Sentencing has been postponed yet again for Hollywood producers Gerald and Patricia Green, the couple who were convicted of bribing a Thai tourism official in exchange for contracts to run the Bangkok International Film Festival and other tourism-related projects.

This is at least the third time the sentencing has been rescheduled.

There was a sentencing hearing scheduled back in January at around the same time the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment against the former Thai government official they say received the $1.8 million in bribes from the Greens: Juthamas Siriwan.

The Greens were supposed to be sentenced yesterday in Los Angeles. The Wrap was at the courthouse:

Watching the 90-minute session today in Judge Wu's in LA's downtown federal courthouse, it would be easy to think this was an April Fool's joke gone off the rails, or that an actual trial and judgment had never happened. Both U.S. attorneys and defense lawyers seemed to re-argue the entire case, point-by-point, on isues of motivation, damages, medical condition, financial loss and gain, and sentencing guideline calculations.

Somberly dressed in black, both Gerald and Patricia Green say silently throughout the proceedings. The 78-year-old Gerald Green, who had an oxygen tune connected to his nose, only spoke once, to confer with his wife and his attorney Jerome Mooney about upcoming court dates. Because of the charges they face and their advanced age, they face the possibility of life in prison.

Sentencing is now set for April 29.

And where is Juthamas by the way?

(Via Film Business Asia)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please, no questions or comments about where to download movies or subtitle files.

Please read the FAQ about Thai films on DVD before asking about where to find a Thai movie on DVD with English subtitles.

Make your comments pertinent to the post you are commenting on. For off-topic comments, general observations or news tips, consider sending an e-mail to me at wisekwai [ a t ] g m a i l [d o t ] c o m.

All comments are moderated. Spam comments will be deleted.