BANGKOK, Dec 31 — The Criminal Court on Tuesday released Pichit Chaimongkol, spokesman for the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand (NSPRT), on bail by accepting Bt100,000 cash as collateral.
The NSPRT is a splinter group of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) which has been staging anti-government protests at the Democracy Monument.
Mr Phicit was arrested at a department store in Srinakarin area on Sunday night for allegedly leading protesters to intrude into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 24 and damaging state property.
The Criminal Court granted bail to Mr Pichit after accepting Bt100,000 cash as bail bond on condition that he would not incite public disorder and chaos.
The Court ruled that Mr Phichit had rejected all charges and the penalty was considered minor. There were also no reasonable grounds to believe he would try to escape although the investigators opposed granting him bail.
Mr Pichit is also one of nine defendants released on bail on criminal charges in connection with the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in 2008.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) asked the court to repeal his bail for his role in the anti-government movement. The court is set to examine the DSI request on February 24.
