A father and son were acquitted of heroin-trafficking...

A father and son were acquitted of heroin-trafficking charges, but the father's mistress and two accomplices in the same gang were sentenced to death. The group was arrested after a sting operation in 2000 involving 74 kilograms of heroin. The court acquitted Pongpipat Satpitak, 52, and his son, Watanasilp Satpitak, 24. Pongpipat's mistress Somporn Thaweeapiradeephum, 32, and two accomplices, Thanu Manajaipakdi, 47, and Pongpan Pirom, 42 received the death penalty. Prosecutors said police had started to investigate the drug gang after uncovering unusual banking transactions between Pongpipat and Somporn. A team of undercover police officers then posed as buyers and negotiated a drug deal with Somporn at a Bangkok hotel. Somporn, assisted by Thanu and Pongpan, made the heroin delivery and were subsequently arrested. Pongpipat and Watanasilp were apprehended in Chiang Mai while in the process of obtaining the payment for the narcotics. The Criminal Court ruled that Somporn, Thanu and Pongpan had been caught red-handed while making the heroin delivery. However, the court said that police had arrested Pongpipat and Watanasilp before the two had taken possession of the drug payment. And the prosecution did not present clear evidence on how the two were linked to the heroin deal. don