Yellow Shirt leader Sondhi indicted on lese majeste charge

BANGKOK, July 5 - A key leader of Thailand's yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Sondhi Limthongkul on Monday was indicted on lese majeste charges filed by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), but the accused denied all charges.

The Yellow Shirt leader arrived at Ratchada Criminal Court with lawyer Supat Apaipakdi. The attorney said his client came to hear the lese majeste charge in compliance with Section 112 of the Constitution after restating Red Shirt ally Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul's remarks criticising the monarchy on the PAD stage at Makkhawan Bridge in July 20, 2008.

Ms Daranee, commonly known as "Da Torpedo", was sentenced to an 18-year-jail term for making speeches deemed insulting to the monarchy during the Red Shirt's rallies in 2008.

Mr Sondhi however denied all accusations and will seek temporary release from the court with a Bt300,000 bail bond.

The Yellow Shirt leader earlier urged the OAG to further investigate the case, saying that he had no intention to commit an offense.

The attorney general however rejected his request, claiming that the case is complete and Mr Sondhi should defend himself in court.

The court will examine Mr Sondhi's evidence on August 16. (MCOT online news)