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125682
Wed, 06/02/2010 - 20:22
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Court rejects DSI bid to arrest 20 leading Red Shirts on terrorism charges
BANGKOK, June 2 (TNA) - The Criminal Court on Wednesday turned down a Department of Special Investigation (DSI) request to issue arrest warrants for 20 leading members of the anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) as 12 have insufficient evidence, and warrants were already issued for another seven.
As for the warrants requested for the seven, the court said the charged could be added and they can be detained under authority of the Emergency Decree, which is still in place.
This group included Korkaew Pikulthong and Nisit Sithuprai who remain detained.
The DSI withdrew the name of Puea Thai MP Karun Hosakul from the list as he had already reported to police on June 1. The Court said also that there was no need to issue a warrant for Mr Karun.
DSI Director General Tharit Pengdit said that as for the three MPs from the Opposition Puea Thai party -- Jatuporn Prompan, Wichien Khaokham and
Mr Karun, who had been served arrest warrants but enjoyed parliamentary immunity -- the DSI would summon them to meet the Criminal Court next Tueday.
The DSI will then seek court approval to detain them and oppose any bail application, he said.
Mr Tharit said arrest warrants for the trio were not required because they had already reported to DSI investigators.
Mr Jatuporn said earlier that he was not required to report to the DSI again since they had already done so. He said the DSI gave him 30 days to prepare evidence for his defence.
In related developments, the Criminal Court on Wednesday agreed with the request by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to extend the detention of three anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders -- Veera Musikapong, Korkaew, and Weng Tojirakarn -- for another seven days for further questioning.
They had turned themselves in to police on May 20 at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on charges of violating the Emergency Decree but denied terrorism charges.
The court hearing on the detention extension was conducted via teleconference for security reasons as the three were taken to custody at the Naresuan Border Patrol Police Base in Phetchaburi's Cha-am.
The CRES reasoned that the investigation was not yet complete and that more time was needed to do so and for collecting evidence. The extended detention period is from June 2 to June 9.
The second seven days of the trio's detention under the emergency law expires Wednesday, requiring police to seek the Court's permission of their detention for another seven days.
On Tuesday the Court gave police similarly permission to further detain five other UDD leaders -- Natthawut Saikua, Kwanchai Praipana, Nisit, Wiphuthalang Pattanaphuthai and Yoswaris Chuklom or Jeng Dokchik -- who surrendered to police on May 19 and announced the end of the over six week-long protest at Ratchaprasong following clashes between security forces and Red Shirts during the army operation to retake the rally site.
All five were facing charges of violating the Emergency Decree but also denied terrorism charges.(TNA)
As for the warrants requested for the seven, the court said the charged could be added and they can be detained under authority of the Emergency Decree, which is still in place.
This group included Korkaew Pikulthong and Nisit Sithuprai who remain detained.
The DSI withdrew the name of Puea Thai MP Karun Hosakul from the list as he had already reported to police on June 1. The Court said also that there was no need to issue a warrant for Mr Karun.
DSI Director General Tharit Pengdit said that as for the three MPs from the Opposition Puea Thai party -- Jatuporn Prompan, Wichien Khaokham and
Mr Karun, who had been served arrest warrants but enjoyed parliamentary immunity -- the DSI would summon them to meet the Criminal Court next Tueday.
The DSI will then seek court approval to detain them and oppose any bail application, he said.
Mr Tharit said arrest warrants for the trio were not required because they had already reported to DSI investigators.
Mr Jatuporn said earlier that he was not required to report to the DSI again since they had already done so. He said the DSI gave him 30 days to prepare evidence for his defence.
In related developments, the Criminal Court on Wednesday agreed with the request by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to extend the detention of three anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders -- Veera Musikapong, Korkaew, and Weng Tojirakarn -- for another seven days for further questioning.
They had turned themselves in to police on May 20 at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on charges of violating the Emergency Decree but denied terrorism charges.
The court hearing on the detention extension was conducted via teleconference for security reasons as the three were taken to custody at the Naresuan Border Patrol Police Base in Phetchaburi's Cha-am.
The CRES reasoned that the investigation was not yet complete and that more time was needed to do so and for collecting evidence. The extended detention period is from June 2 to June 9.
The second seven days of the trio's detention under the emergency law expires Wednesday, requiring police to seek the Court's permission of their detention for another seven days.
On Tuesday the Court gave police similarly permission to further detain five other UDD leaders -- Natthawut Saikua, Kwanchai Praipana, Nisit, Wiphuthalang Pattanaphuthai and Yoswaris Chuklom or Jeng Dokchik -- who surrendered to police on May 19 and announced the end of the over six week-long protest at Ratchaprasong following clashes between security forces and Red Shirts during the army operation to retake the rally site.
All five were facing charges of violating the Emergency Decree but also denied terrorism charges.(TNA)
