BANGKOK, Dec 28 – Red Shirt activist Arisman Pongruangrong on Wednesday was temporarily released from prison after the Court of Appeals granted him bail, only to be promptly detained again by police in a defamation case filed by Democrat Member of Parliament for Songkhla Sirichok Sopha.
Bangkok Remand Prison wardens brought the red shirt activist to freedom after receiving the court order at 5pm.
Mr Arisman was greeted with his parents and family as well as a crowd of Red Shirt supporters.
Shortly afterwards, police took him into custody at Prachachuen Police Station
pending transfer to Songkhla Provincial Court on Thursday. Mr Arisman has an outstanding warrant for a defamation lawsuit filed by opposition MP Sirichok.
The move took the Red Shirt supporters by surprise.
Mr Arisman however told them briefly that his freedom on bail for the terrorism case marked the beginning of a national reconciliation which needs the Thai people to forgive each other.
A police vehicle whisked him away, while some Red Shirt supporters followed him to the police station to give him moral support.
The pop singer-turned-activist was among 19 Red Shirt leaders charged with terrorism for their alleged roles in instigating the crowd to move toward disorder, chaos and violence to topple the then Abhisit Vejjajiva government during the Feb-May, 2010 anti-government protests.
Mr Arisman denied any wrongdoing.
The Court of Appeals on Wednesday granted him bail with Bt6 million bail bond but barred him from leaving the country and charged him to not repeat his alleged offences.
