BANGKOK, Feb 20 – Thailand’s Court of Appeals on Monday rejected a bail application for Somyot Preuksakasemsuk, editor of a Red Shirt magazine detained for lese majeste, citing concern over his possible flight.
The court delivered its decision as Mr Somyot’s son, Panitan Preuksakasemsuk, submitted a bail request seeking the temporary release of his father who was the editor of the magazine “Voice of Thaksin” with a Bt1.6 million bail bond.
Mr Panitan’s move came after he earlier launched a 112-hour hunger strike to draw attention to his father’s plight. The campaign was meant to protest his father’s imprisonment and to call for his father’s right to bail.
The court however said Mr Somyot was charged with serious offences and that his past action affected the feeling of he Thai people.
If he is granted the temporary release, the court claimed, he may escape prosecution or commit additional inappropriate acts.
Mr Somyot is now detained at Bangkok Remand Prison after the court rejected the request.
Karom Ponthaklang, Mr Somyot’s lawyer, said he will seek a Constitution Court judgement as to whether the Appeals court’s rejection is considered violating the defendant’s constitutional rights or not as he has already been denied bail six times.
