SONGKHLA, Dec 29 – Police escorted Red Shirt activist Arisman Pongruangrong to Songkhla Provincial Court today to acknowledge defamation charges filed against him by Democrat Member of Parliament for Songkhla Sirichok Sopha.
His wife and lawyer are prepared to submit a bail application for him.
Mr Arisman on Wednesday was temporarily released from prison after the Court of Appeals granted him bail for a terrorism case in connection with violence during the Red Shirt protest last year.
The Court of Appeals on Wednesday granted him bail with Bt6 million in cash as collateral but barred him from leaving the country and charged him to not repeat his alleged offences. Shortly after the release, he was greeted by families and Red Shirt supporters and detained again by police in a defamation case.
The pop singer-turned-activist was among 19 Red Shirt leaders charged with terrorism for their alleged roles in instigating the crowd to move toward disorder, chaos and violence to topple the then Abhisit Vejjajiva government during the Feb-May 2010 anti-government protests. Mr Arisman denied any wrongdoing.
