BANGKOK, Jan 17 – Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then deputy Suthep Thaugsuban will file lawsuits against the head and four top officials of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for abusing their power and falsely imposing charges against them in connection with the 2010 political upheaval in Bangkok.
The two political heavy-weights discussed with the Democrat Party’s legal team, led by Thaworn Senneam, for over two hours on Wednesday to pinpoint charges against DSI director general Tarit Pengdith and four other DSI officials.
Mr Thaworn said the DSI officials unlawfully charged Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep with initiating the murders of people during the political disorder when they, in fact, only carried out their duty under the emergency decree.
The Civil Court ruled twice that the Red Shirt rally was against the law and demonstrators carried arms which resulted in fatal shootings of state authorities and crisis in the nation, he said.
The Democrat lawyer said the then government was duty-bound to maintain peace and order in the country and authorised to order government officials to keep public order in accord with the emergency decree.
Mr Thaworn said Mr Tarit and the four other DSI officials put charges against Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep as “ordinary civilians,” not as prime minister and deputy prime minister – their positions while on peace-keeping duty.
The DSI intentionally investigated the case instead of submitting it to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, an action which is a breach of Articles 200 and 157 of the Criminal Code, he said, adding that the DSI officials also violated Article 309 of the Criminal Code for confining the two former politicians for questioning which lasted more than 10 hours.
Mr Thaworn said he will file the lawsuit with the court next week but Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung will be excluded due to insufficient evidence.
