BANGKOK, May 16 — Prof Dr Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, former president of the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), was detained this morning on charges of insurrection.
Police detained Dr Sombat at the NIDA parking lot on his arrival at the campus for work as usual.
He admitted that he is wanted under arrest warrants for insurrection as he joined the anti-government movement of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).
Dr Sombat was taken to investigators of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for questioning at the Royal Thai Police Sports Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road which is the office of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).
Dr Sombat said he rejects all charges filed against him and vowed to join the anti-government protest with the PDRC as it was the basic right under the Constitution. He stressed that he has done nothing wrong.
He said he planned to report to police next week after the Criminal Court approved arrest warrant against him and other PDRC leaders.
The Criminal Court on Wednesday approved arrest warrants against 30 PDRC leaders for insurrection and other charges as requested by DSI.
Most of the figures were former Democrat Party members including Thaworn Senneam, Satit Wongnongtaey, Chumpol Chullasai, Buddhipongse Punnakanta, Issara Somchai, Akanat Promphan, Nattapol Theepsuwan, Witthaya Kaewparadai and Chitpas Kridakorn.
Others included Sombat, Phra Buddha Issara, Uthai Yodmanee, Jermsak Pinthong.
Dr Jemsak has turned himself to authorities on Thursday to acknowledge charges against him. He later was granted bail with Bt500,000 cash accepted as collateral.
The Court has rejected arrest warrants for other 13 people asked by the DSI in the same request.
They are mostly former leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), including Somsak Kosaisuk, Anchalee Paireerak and Suriyasai Katasila.
The Court said they already face charges in other cases but are currently free on bail. They are unlikely to flee the legal process.
