Janpop Weeraporn, 37, a wealthy businessman, will also have his driving licence revoked for life.

The court initially jailed Janepob for five years but reduced the sentence to two years and six months as he confessed and provided information that was useful to the investigation.

It is not known whether Janpop will be granted bail.

The defendant was driving his Mercedes-Benz at a speed of at least 215 kilometres per hour when it crashed into the rear of a Ford Sedan, the court heard. The sedan caught fire on impact, killing passengers Thanthapat Horsaengchai, 34, and Kritsana Thaworn, 32.

Both were post-graduate students at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University majoring in Peace Studies and scheduled to receive their degrees in April last year.

Kanchana Horsaengchai, Thanthapat’ sister, appeared at the court before the verdict was delivered. She said her family’s state of mind had improved since the accident.

Since the accident, the defendant has not contacted the family about the case.

It has been reported that because of the accident, Thanthapat’s father decided to enter the monkhood and does not plan to leave it.