By Omoniyi David
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five Thai nationals to one year imprisonment each for cybercrime and illegal stay in Nigeria.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment after the convicts: Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang, and Galin Suphaaut entered a plea bargain with the Federal Government.
The court ruled that each convict would serve one year on each of the three counts or, alternatively, pay a fine of N1 million.
Justice Nwite also ordered their deportation after serving the sentence or paying the fine, with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), directed to oversee their repatriation.
All electronic gadgets used in committing the offences were forfeited to the Federal Government.
The convicts, who arrived in Nigeria in September 2024 on a 30-day business visa, overstayed and were accused of operating a fraudulent gaming platform in Katampe District, Abuja.
They were initially arraigned in 2024 on charges of cybercrime, money laundering, unlawful access to computer networks, and input of fake data, contrary to the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended in 2024). They first pleaded not guilty but later changed their plea through a Thai interpreter.
