Couple gets maximum term over cash fraud

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Couple gets maximum term over cash fraud
-The Nation 2010-10-28

BANGKOK: -- The Ratchadapisek Criminal Court yesterday sentenced a couple to 1,562 years in prison for embezzling Bt2.1 million through the use of electronic cash cards issued to Retailink (Thailand) employees to pay for petrol.

However, Retailink employee Sudawadi Rodmanee and her boyfriend, Shell petrol station employee Pathorn Chingduang, ended up getting just 20 years in jail because that is the maximum allowed by Thai law. The two, both 29, were also ordered to repay the firm Bt2.1 million at an annual interest rate of 7.5 per cent.

From May 31, 2006 to December 17, 2007, the couple reportedly used cash cards issued to 29 employees 1,533 times to pocket a total of Bt2.1 million - an action denied by both defendants, the lawsuit said. The court ruled that the couple was guilty on grounds that the plaintiff had convincing testimonies from damaged persons while the defendants' argument wasn't convincing.