BANGKOK, 10 February 2014 One of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) core leaders under arrest warrant, Sonthiyan Chuenruethainaitham, has been apprehended by police and sent to Pathum Thani province for detention.
Mr Sonthiyan, who is a former director of T-News agency and one of the 19 PDRC core figures whose arrest warrants had been issued, gave a phone interview to the media while under police custody. He disclosed that police approached him this afternoon for an arrest while he was having a meal at Central Plaza Ladprao Shopping Center. The protest leader was unfazed by his capture, saying the PDRC movement was conducted within the people’s constitutional right.
Assistant National Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Winai Thongsong, who was leading the arresting team, stated that Mr Sonthiyan admitted he was the person being sought after by police when he was approached and was very cooperative. Since the arrest was made under the emergency decree, he noted that a bond could be put up for his temporary release but the decision would depend on the investigative officers.
Mr Sonthiyan has been sent for detention at the Border Patrol Police Region 1 Headquarters in Pathum Thani. According to the law, he can initially be held by the police for no longer than 7 days. A request for an extension of 30 days might be submitted to the court before a criminal case is raised against the suspect.
