Bangkok: The Bangkok South Criminal Court has granted bail to actress Poo Manthana, who was recently sentenced to two years in prison for filing a false police report and defaming Lukmee Rasmi. The court's decision to allow bail means that Manthana will avoid an immediate jail sentence as she posted a surety of 45,000 baht.
According to Thai News Agency, the case arose from allegations made by Rasmi Thongsiripraisri, known as Lukmee, against Poo Manthana. Lukmee accused Manthana of malicious prosecution and defamation, following a false report related to business investment discussions. The court examined evidence, including chat conversations on the LINE application, and determined that the claims made by Manthana were false and misleading.
The court found that Manthana was aware of the true nature of the discussions, yet chose to file a complaint that led to Rasmi's potential punishment. This act of filing false accusations was deemed as defamation and slander, resulting in a two-year prison sentence without suspension. However, Manthana's application for temporary bail was accepted by the court, allowing her to remain free pending further proceedings.