Justo gets three years’ jail

(The Star) – Swiss national Xavier Andre Justo (pic) has been sentenced to three years’ jail for attempting to blackmail his former employer, PetroSaudi International.

Court officials said a Bangkok criminal court judge ruled that the 49-year-old would begin serving his sentence from June 22, the date of his arrest.

Justo is to serve the sentence fully in a Thai prison.

It is understood that an original sentence of six years’ jail was reduced to three upon taking into consideration Justo’s guilty plea.

The former IT executive at PetroSaudi was charged under Section 338 of the Thai Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of between one and ten years, and a fine of between 2000 baht and 20,000 baht.

Court officials said Justo had 30 days to file an appeal.

When contacted, Justo’s lawyer Pranot Kalanuson said he would consult his client on the next step.

“I will discuss with my client on whether he wishes to appeal,” Kalanuson said briefly over the phone.