The Military Court has denied a bail request for a 25-year-old musician who is accused of distributing a forged statement from the Royal Household Bureau, saying it considered him a flight risk, his lawyer says.
Krit Butradeejin, who is now facing charges of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, otherwise known as lese majeste, and the Computer Crime Act, was arrested on Feb 3 at his home in Phetchabun’s Muang district for his alleged involvement in distributing a forged statement about His Majesty the King’s health.
Suphawat Taksin, a lawyer for Mr Krit, yesterday asked that he be released on 400,000-baht bail, but the court decided to reject the request.
Mr Krit, who has been detained at Bangkok Remand Bangkok, was identified by police as “among the first people” who shared the forged statement.
The red-shirt advocate shared the statement with about 4,000 people on his Facebook page on the night of Feb 2.
Mr Suphawat said Mr Krit should receive the same treatment as ASTV Manager webmaster Nirun Yaoyapha, who is facing the same charges.
Meanwhile, Lepakorn Sirimungkorn, 36, an investigator at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), yesterday lodged a complaint with Pol Col Akkaradej Pimonsri, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division, against two suspects linked to former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Pongpat Chayapan, who is facing a raft of corruption allegations, including citing the monarchy for personal gain.
The two men, Chakarn Pakphum and Preecha Daratri, were charged with violating the lese majeste law.
Last September, ONCB officials searched a house believed to be tied to illegal drugs on Kaset-Nawamin Road in Bangkok.
Mr Lepakorn said Mr Preecha, the house owner, did not allow the team to search his property.
Instead, he said the authorities should talk on the phone to Mr Chakarn, who allegedly cited the monarchy to stop him from searching the house.
Mr Chakarn allegedly claimed he was secretary to Natthapol Suwadee, a former army captain accused of having links to Pol Lt Gen Pongpat's network.