Chinese man living in Pattaya gets 46 years in prison for owning a weapons

A Thai court sentenced Chinese national Sun Mingchen, 31, to 46 years in prison on Monday for illegally possessing military-grade weapons and explosives found in Chon Buri after a May 8 car crash, the Bangkok Post reported.

Prosecutors charged Sun and another defendant with illegal possession of military firearms, ammunition, explosives and other military equipment, including radio communication devices. Sun pleaded guilty to all charges, while the second defendant denied the allegations.

The court found that Sun committed offences under the Firearms Act, the Arms Control Act and the Radio Communications Act. “The court ruled that the offences were particularly serious because they posed a threat to public safety and national security,” the Bangkok Post reported.

The court reduced Sun’s sentence by one third because his guilty plea was useful, then imposed consecutive prison terms totalling 44 years and 24 months, equivalent to 46 years. He can legally serve a maximum of 20 years, and that the court ordered the confiscation of seized items including a 9mm Glock pistol, M4 and M16 assault rifles, ammunition, C4 explosive, anti-personnel explosives, body armour, chemical protection masks, signal jammers and remote signal transmission equipment.

The investigation began on the evening of May 8, when Na Jomtien police responded to a sedan overturning in Bang Lamung district. Officers found a handgun in the vehicle, detained Sun and later searched his residence in tambon Huai Yai, where authorities said they found a large weapons stockpile.