Court rules arrests properly executed
The Criminal Court yesterday denied a request to release Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who has accused police of unlawfully detaining him.
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| Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang smiles as he is escorted to the Criminal Court. The People’s Alliance for Democracy founder petitioned the court to reject his detention.The court, however, threw out his request yesterday. TAWATCHAIKEMGUMNERD |
The judge said the officers were authorised to detain Maj-Gen Chamlong, who had an arrest warrant issued against him on a charge of insurrection. The Appeals Court has still not handed down a verdict on whether to revoke it after a request by the PAD.
The Criminal Court earlier threw out a request to revoke the arrest warrants for nine PAD key leaders, including Maj-Gen Chamlong, after they led thousands of demonstrators in the seizure of Government House on Aug 26.
The PAD has lodged an appeal with the Appeals Court against the warrants. It believes any police action against them while the court considers the appeal would be unlawful.
The court yesterday also rejected Maj-Gen Chamlong's complaint that he was unlawfully detained at the Border Patrol Police Region 1, not a police station in Sam Sen where he was arrested on Oct 5. The judge reasoned the defendant could be taken to any agency of officers assigned to handle the case.
PAD lawyer Suwat Apaipak said he will appeal the ruling and again asked the judge to release Maj-Gen Chamlong and another PAD core leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong who was arrested on Friday.
Maj-Gen Chamlong earlier refused an offer by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to pay his bail. Gen Chavalit hoped the release of the PAD core leader would calm the situation.
Gen Chavalit resigned as deputy prime minister yesterday after the police crackdown on PAD demonstrators.
"He [Maj-Gen Chamlong] said that bail would not end the confusion because police have already resorted to a violent approach," said Lt-Gen Pirat Sawamipas, Gen Chavalit's close aide.
Lt-Gen Pirat visited Maj-Gen Chamlong yesterday afternoon on behalf of Gen Chavalit. He had prepared a bank account containing 1.1 million baht to be used as bail for Maj-Gen Chamlong.
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