BANGKOK, Oct 30 – The public prosecutor will complete an indictment against former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsubhan tomorrow.
Watcharin Panurattana, spokesman of the Attorney General Office, said the Special Litigation Department was instructed to finish the indictment tomorrow so that the two suspects would acknowledge the allegations when they appear before the Attorney General.
Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep will be indicted on murder charges in giving orders to security agencies to disperse anti-government demonstrators during the months-long 2010 rally at Rajprasong intersection, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 people and injuries of hundreds.
According to the public prosecutor, their actions were against Articles 80, 83, 84, 90 and 288 of the Criminal Code.
When Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep meet with the public prosecutor tomorrow, they are to acknowledge receipt of the indictment, said Mr Vatcharin, adding that they would be immediately sent to the Criminal Court to be formally charged if they refuse to exercise their parliamentary immunity.
Lawmakers are protected from arrest or court trial during a parliamentary session. Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep are Democrat MPs.
He said the Attorney General’s order was final and the suspects could not seek changes in the indictment, and a contradictory opinion of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) would not be considered.
Mr Watcharin said as the two officials ordered the crackdown on demonstrators, resulting in the deaths of many people, their case could not be determined as more than one case since a single order was issued.
The DSI, however, believes differently to the Attorney General.
DSI director general Tarit Pengdith said the pair’s offences in connection with political suppression in 2010 involved several separate cases and lawsuits against them should be filed separately.
Mr Watcharin contended that the court would eventually combine the cases into a single trial and the maximum punishment is the same execution.
Relatives of those killed in the political unrest can file civil and criminal charges, he said.
