(Recast) Drug kingpin sentenced by Thai court to life imprisonment, son given death penalty

BANGKOK, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- A suspected drug kingpin in Thailand was sentenced by a court to life imprisonment on drug dealing charges on Wednesday.

The Criminal Court ruled Lao Ta Saenlee, 77, and his wife, Asama Saenlee, 67, guilty of trading crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," to a police detective, who disguised as a drug dealer, in Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai province last year.

The court sentenced his wife Asama to 25 years in prison.

Lao Ta, known as a surrogate of drug warlord Khun Sa, would have been given death penalty if he had not confessed to the charges, police said.

Besides, the couple were demanded by the court to pay 2.5 million baht (about 73,529 U.S. dollars) in fine each.

Meanwhile, Wicharn Saenlee, 41, a son of Lao Ta, and Baramee Barameekuakul, 38, an employee of the drug kingpin, were sentenced to death penalty also on charges of trading crystal methamphetamin.

Besides, a fifth suspect, identified as Rapheekarn Photphetcharaluck, 57, a woman employee of the drug lord, was sentenced to life in jail for similar drug dealing charges.

All the five drug suspects said they would fight for themselves in the Appeals Court at a later date.

Thai authorities once charged Lao Ta of drug dealing in 2003 and a Thai court later ruled that the evidence was insufficient and dismiss the case in 2007. Enditem