The Criminal Court on Saturday approved detention and rejected bail for nine suspects charged with anti-government activities and terrorism linked with hardcore red-shirt fugitive Wuthipong "Kotee" Kochathammakun.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) sought to extend custody for 12 days from Saturday until April 5 as it had to question 25 witnesses and examine more evidence. It objected to the suspects' temporary release, saying they were prone to violence and use of weapons for anti-government activities.
Criminal suspects can be detained for up to seven 12-day periods, or 84 days, before charges must be formally laid.
From 2009 to 2010, the DSI told the court, it had been investigating members of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in connection with terrorist acts in Greater Bangkok.
It also found that the red-shirt group in Pathum Thani province led by Mr Wuthipong, 48, continued to build up caches of weapons and explosives for use in violent incidents.
On March 18, authorities searched Wat Phra Dhammakaya and eight other locations in seven provinces and found a large number of war weapons, explosives and ammunition. One of the locations was a Pathum Thani house that served as a base for Kotee when he ran a red-shirt radio station before he fled the country. He is now in Laos.
Some weapons were linked with political demonstrations in 2010, the DSI said, and there were documents detailing illegal forces, discs showing red-shirt activities, UDD logos and banners reading "Kotee Red Pathum Thani".
The department alleged that the nine suspects arrested in connection with the weapons seizures were part of Kotee's network. They were charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism and illegal possession of war weapons and ammunition.
The government has alleged that the weapons were intended for use in attempts to assassinate Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. But it has not yet produced any evidence to suppot this claim.
Relatives of two of the suspects requested bail of between 300,000 and 600,000 baht but the court turned it down.
It said the alleged offences carried the death penalty and the activities of the group could cause violence and turmoil in the country. If they were temporarily released, they could escape or take part in untoward incidents the judges said.
The suspects were then brought to the Bangkok Remand Prison and the Central Women's Correctional Institution.
The nine were identified as Thanachot Wongjanchompoo, 57, Boonsong Khotpradit, 54, Prathuang On-lamun, 58, Palita Ruangsuwan, 62, Wanchaichana Krutchaiyan, 56, Suriyasak Chatpitakkul, 49, Udomchai Nopsawas, 60, Theerachai Utarawichian, 55, and Aem-on Watkaew, 44.
Soldiers handed them over to the DSI on Friday after an initial seven-day detention.