BANGKOK, Aug 9 – Thailand’s Criminal Court on Thursday set Aug 22 as the date to read its verdict on revoking bail for 19 Red Shirt leaders, while another five ruling Pheu Thai Party MP cases were also deferred for consideration in November.
The Criminal Court consideration came because the Constitution Court earlier petitioned it seeking to revoke bail for former Pheu Thai party-list MP Jatuporn Prompan, after he criticised the Constitution Court’s decision to review petitions against the government-sponsored Constitution amendment bills on June 7.
The Criminal Court postponed its decision on Mr Jatuporn’s case until today, together with its consideration of similar cases of 23 Red Shirt leaders whose bail revocation was sought by the opposition Democrat Party and the Constitution Court, alleging them of violating bail conditions.
The Criminal Court earlier decided to postpone its hearings on withdrawing bail for five Red Shirt leaders who are Pheu Thai Party-list MPs until Nov 29 for fear that there could be legal problems as the five have parliamentary immunity.
The five leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakan, Korkaew Pikulthong, Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai and Karun Hosakul.
The MP status of Mr Karun is uncertain as the court has not yet decided its position after receiving the Election Commission recommendation that he be disqualified for allegedly defaming the Democrat Party during his election campaign.
The five are among the 24 UDD leaders and activists facing bail withdrawal including Mr Jatuporn, Veerakan Musikapong, Kwanchai Sarakham (Praipana), Nisit Sinthuprai and Yossawaris Chuklom aka Jeng Dokchik.
For the case of Jeng Dokchik, Democrat Party MP Nipit Intarasombat, who filed the petition, has shown a video footage of the defendant announcing the charter court judges’ names, their addresses and telephone numbers during a Red Shirt rally on June 7.
Mr Jeng’s lawyer requested the court to postpone the hearing for his client, saying a video verification is needed to decide whether the footage was edited and distorted.
The court later agreed to postpone Mr Jeng’s hearing to Aug 22 at 9am, and will rule on the case together with those of the other 18 Red Shirt leaders at 3pm.
