Sompol Jirotemontree, better known as “Ko Nang”, was among six defendants found guilty in a case filed by the Trang province prosecutor and 15 workers from Myanmar.

A total of 10 people were accused of forcing persons aged between 15 and 18 to work against their will under the threat of physical assault.

The defendants’ relatives, including Sompol’s younger brother who is the Kantang municipality mayor, turned up to lend their support as the court was due to rule on the case Friday.

But after the verdict, which took an hour to read out, the court sentenced six defendants including a fishing boat captain to 14 years in prison. The cases against four others were dismissed.

The six were also ordered to collectively pay almost Bt2 million in compensation to the Myanmar workers.

Sompol’s family said they would appeal against the court’s ruling.