BANGKOK, 13 November 2013 Former Democrat MP-turned demonstration core leader Suthep Thaugsuban has been accused of violating Articles 116 and 117 of the criminal law, and could face jail time.
According to Deputy chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Pol. Maj. Gen. Adul Narongsak, Suthep has allegedly violated Article 116 for instigating chaos and disrupting public peace and order, under which he is subject to 7 years imprisonment if found guilty. Whereas article 117, which the deputy chief has also accused Mr. Suthep of violating, stipulates that anyone found guilty of or provoking public disobedience or hoodwinking them to take leave from work in order to threaten the government or the public sector is subject to 7 years in prison or a maximum of 14,000 baht fine or both.
Moreover, those who participate in the civil disobedience and/or assist the public in taking leave from work will be subject to not more than 3 years imprisonment or a 6,000 baht fine or both.
In related news, two members of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand who entered the off-limit zone covered by the Internal Security Act (ISA) on November 8 have also been charged with violating the ISA. They face up to 1 year in prison or a fine of 20,000 baht, or both.
