FOUR protest leaders held in pretrial detention since Feb. 9 were for the fourth time denied temporary bail by the Criminal Court today (Feb. 22), Siam Rath newspaper quoted Mr. Paisal Puechmongkol, a former assistant deputy prime minister, as saying in his Facebook post.
Paisal mentioned that the court did now allow the four protest leaders to be bailed out despite two Thammasat University professors, Mr. Chanvit Kasetsiri, former president of Thammasat University, and Mr. Panat Tassaneeyananda, former dean of the Faculty of Law, having placed their positions as guarantee.
The four of them are student leader Mr Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, lawyer Mr. Anon Nampa, Mr. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk and Mr Patiwat Saraiyaem, also known as “Mor Lam Bank”.
Previously, the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal had refused to grant temporary bail and today the Criminal Court gave four reasons for likewise not doing so with these being as follows:
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Speeches about monarchy;
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The speeches hurt the feelings of loyal subjects;
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There is a high risk of the suspects fleeing;
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Concern about repeat offense.
The court added that judgement was made in accordance with the provisions of the law governing temporary release petitions.
Paisal added that as the court did not reject the bail petition of the basis of unreliable guarantors or insufficient surety this then means changing the guarantors or increasing the surety would not lead to bail being granted.
Meanwhile the People’s Party posted an online message and a poster announcing a demonstration at Ratchaprasong intersection at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
The message urged policemen to change sides and support their cause.
It added that there will be fun activities and free gifts for those showing up.
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Top: The four protest leaders denied bail for the fourth time today.
Home Page: Penguin at an earlier bail hearing. Photos: Siam Rath
