According to the lawsuit, Anont Meksan had on April 13 beaten the dog, “Chao Khao”, with a metal pipe and then stabbed it with a Samurai sword in a rage because it had reportedly bitten his son, which resulted in the child having to get five injections. The dog belonged to a resident in Soi Ramkhamhaeng.

Anont confessed to the wrongdoing in court and the judge halved the original sentence of four months in jail and changed the punishment to “detention” instead of “imprisonment”.

The Phra Nakhon Nua district court also granted him bail for Bt18,000, which was paid by his relatives. The family admitted that Anont’s behaviour was unacceptable and that they had made merit for the dog. They also called on the authorities to find a solution to the problem of stray dogs in the capital. John Dalley, the founder of the Soi Dog Foundation, was also present at the court room.

The court-ordered detention means the defendant will be held in a designated facility rather than in prison. This could be the defendant’s own home, another person’s residence or a facility such as a cell at a police station. The detainee must remain at the facility throughout the detention period, work and follow regulations. He will be allowed to pay for food bought from outside, wear his own clothes, will be allowed visitors for at least an hour a day as well as receive and send letters.

If the detainee is held at his own place or in someone else’s home, then he can work from home.

The sentence can be changed to imprisonment if the detainee violates regulations or fails to live up to the court’s conditions.