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128600
Fri, 06/18/2010 - 19:54
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http://m.oananews.org//node/128600
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Court set to rule on Red Shirt leader Jatuporn's bail June 23
BANGKOK, June 18 (TNA) - Thailand's Criminal Court has scheduled to announce on June 23 whether it will revoke the bail of Puea Thai member of parliament and leader of the anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Jatuporn Prompan who faces terrorism charges.
The Criminal Court which completed its hearing Friday afternoon earlier scheduled to decide whether to revoke Mr Jatuporn's bail the same day, but ended up deciding to rule on June 23 at 9.30am.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) sought a court order to detain key Red Shirt leader Jatuporn and vigorously opposed the defendant's request for bail.
DSI investigator Pol Lt-Gen Thawan Mangkang presented the detention request to the Criminal Court as Mr Jatuporn's first detention period will
expire Sunday.
The DSI said the defendant breached the conditions set in the first instance of granting bail by leading Red Shirt supporters to pressure the court Tuesday when investigators led 11 Red Shirt leaders and Red Shirt guards to the court seeking their further detention on terrorism charges.
The crowd obstructed police transferring the 11 Red Shirts to Bangkok Remand Prison, leading to chaos in the court compound, according to the DSI investigators.
Mr Jatuporn's legal defence team defended him against the accusation by telling the court the defendant was not the leader of the Red Shirt supporters who appeared at the court but said they came by themselves to give moral support to the UDD leaders and did not cause any serious problem during the scuffle.
Hundreds of Red Shirt supporters who gathered at the court compound on Tuesday immediately expressed their dissatisfaction and tried to obstruct the police vehicles carrying their protest leaders after the Criminal Court rejected a bid for bail for eight Red Shirt leaders and three Red Shirt guards, citing concerns over the possibility of their flight to evade prosecution.
Mr Jatuporn was among the Red Shirt leaders who were charged with terrorism after the anti-government protests turned violent and ended on May 19 with grenades, gunfire and arson attacks in the capital and some provinces in the North and Northeast.
A member of parliament from the opposition Puea Thai Party, Mr Jatuporn has not yet been in police custody like his other fellow Red Shirt leaders due to his parliamentary immunity. After parliament recessed, he was granted unconditional bail in early June and posted one million baht as collateral for his bail bond.
Meanwhile, fugutive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer Pichit Chuenban submitted a complaint to Criminal Court to withdraw his client's arrest warrant on terrorism charges.
The court accepted the request for consideration and set to rule on June 28 at 9.30am.
In related developments, UDD lawyer Karom Ponthaklang and Thida Thavornseth, wife of Red Shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn on Friday morning asked the Corrections Department to tranfer six Red Shirt leaders who were detained at Klong Prem Prison to Bangkok Remand Prison.
The lawyer reasoned that Klong Prem Prison cells were too small at 4x6 metres and were too cramped.
Five UDD leaders -- Dr Weng, Kwanchai Praipana, Wiputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai, Yotwaris Chuklom (also known as Jeng Dokchik), Korkaew Pikulthong -- and one UDD guard, Amnart Inthachote, are being detained at Kong Prem Prison on terrorism charges.
The lawyer wanted them to be moved to Bangkok Remand Prison where three other UDD leaders -- Veera Musikapong, Natthawut Saikua and Nisit Sinthuprai -- and two red guards Sombat Makthong and Phumkitti Sukchinda are being detained on the same charges.
Corrections Department director general Chartchai Suthiklom said they were entitled to request the change but the department would consider the request carefully, adhere with the rules, regulations and appropriateness as well as safety.
In another development, DSI deputy director-general Pol. Col Narat Savetanan said the department was waiting for official confirmation from the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to summon 86 persons whose accounts have been frozen due to suspicious transactions to clarify them with the authorities.
He said the CRES order must be signed by army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda who supervised the situation but he was on official trip abroad, therefore the clear picture on the move could not be seen until after June 21.
Col Narat said investigators would sent letters to 86 persons instructing them to meet officials individually to explain their financial activities.(TNA)
The Criminal Court which completed its hearing Friday afternoon earlier scheduled to decide whether to revoke Mr Jatuporn's bail the same day, but ended up deciding to rule on June 23 at 9.30am.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) sought a court order to detain key Red Shirt leader Jatuporn and vigorously opposed the defendant's request for bail.
DSI investigator Pol Lt-Gen Thawan Mangkang presented the detention request to the Criminal Court as Mr Jatuporn's first detention period will
expire Sunday.
The DSI said the defendant breached the conditions set in the first instance of granting bail by leading Red Shirt supporters to pressure the court Tuesday when investigators led 11 Red Shirt leaders and Red Shirt guards to the court seeking their further detention on terrorism charges.
The crowd obstructed police transferring the 11 Red Shirts to Bangkok Remand Prison, leading to chaos in the court compound, according to the DSI investigators.
Mr Jatuporn's legal defence team defended him against the accusation by telling the court the defendant was not the leader of the Red Shirt supporters who appeared at the court but said they came by themselves to give moral support to the UDD leaders and did not cause any serious problem during the scuffle.
Hundreds of Red Shirt supporters who gathered at the court compound on Tuesday immediately expressed their dissatisfaction and tried to obstruct the police vehicles carrying their protest leaders after the Criminal Court rejected a bid for bail for eight Red Shirt leaders and three Red Shirt guards, citing concerns over the possibility of their flight to evade prosecution.
Mr Jatuporn was among the Red Shirt leaders who were charged with terrorism after the anti-government protests turned violent and ended on May 19 with grenades, gunfire and arson attacks in the capital and some provinces in the North and Northeast.
A member of parliament from the opposition Puea Thai Party, Mr Jatuporn has not yet been in police custody like his other fellow Red Shirt leaders due to his parliamentary immunity. After parliament recessed, he was granted unconditional bail in early June and posted one million baht as collateral for his bail bond.
Meanwhile, fugutive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer Pichit Chuenban submitted a complaint to Criminal Court to withdraw his client's arrest warrant on terrorism charges.
The court accepted the request for consideration and set to rule on June 28 at 9.30am.
In related developments, UDD lawyer Karom Ponthaklang and Thida Thavornseth, wife of Red Shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn on Friday morning asked the Corrections Department to tranfer six Red Shirt leaders who were detained at Klong Prem Prison to Bangkok Remand Prison.
The lawyer reasoned that Klong Prem Prison cells were too small at 4x6 metres and were too cramped.
Five UDD leaders -- Dr Weng, Kwanchai Praipana, Wiputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai, Yotwaris Chuklom (also known as Jeng Dokchik), Korkaew Pikulthong -- and one UDD guard, Amnart Inthachote, are being detained at Kong Prem Prison on terrorism charges.
The lawyer wanted them to be moved to Bangkok Remand Prison where three other UDD leaders -- Veera Musikapong, Natthawut Saikua and Nisit Sinthuprai -- and two red guards Sombat Makthong and Phumkitti Sukchinda are being detained on the same charges.
Corrections Department director general Chartchai Suthiklom said they were entitled to request the change but the department would consider the request carefully, adhere with the rules, regulations and appropriateness as well as safety.
In another development, DSI deputy director-general Pol. Col Narat Savetanan said the department was waiting for official confirmation from the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to summon 86 persons whose accounts have been frozen due to suspicious transactions to clarify them with the authorities.
He said the CRES order must be signed by army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda who supervised the situation but he was on official trip abroad, therefore the clear picture on the move could not be seen until after June 21.
Col Narat said investigators would sent letters to 86 persons instructing them to meet officials individually to explain their financial activities.(TNA)
