The Khon Kaen Provincial Court approved another 12-day detention order Wednesday for lese majeste suspect Jatupat "Pai Dao Din" Boonpattararaksa.
Jatupat: Police still gathering evidence.
The order, which covers the period from Thursday through Feb 13, was the sixth time the court had approved a detention order for Mr Jatupat.
It was requested by police who said they had found new evidence - a CD featuring content relevant to the case.
The request was submitted by Jiratthakiat Sornwiset, Muang Khon Kaen police inspector.
The court approved the order without taking any testimony from Mr Jatupat's legal team or family.
Prim Boonpattararaksa, Mr Jatupat's mother, who was sitting inside the courtroom, banged her head against a wall in anger when she heard the judge's decision.
Ms Prim and Mr Jatupat's lawyers had earlier submitted another bail request along with surety of 400,000 baht which was rejected.
According to Pol Lt Col Jiratthakiat, further detention was needed as police were still gathering evidence. The CD, which was declared as new evidence, has to be sent to the Central Police Forensic Science Division to be examined, he said.
He also said police were in the process of submitting the investigation report to the Royal Thai Police for their comments, in line with a requirement imposed by a Provincial Police Region 4 panel overseeing lese majeste-related cases. Police will wrap up the probe and forward it to prosecutors during this latest period of detention, Pol Lt Col Jiratthakiat added.
Police stand outside the Khon Kaen Provincial Court as the court approves another 12-day detention order for Jatupat 'Pai Dao Din' Boonpattararaksa. (Photo by Chakrapan Nathanri)
Meanwhile, more than 80 members of the New Democracy Movement, led by group leader Sirawith "Ja New" Seritiwat, held activities across Khon Kaen's Muang district Wednesday, calling on authorities to release Mr Jatupat.
Last month, Mr Jatupat, a final year law student at Khon Kaen University, was given permission to sit two of his final exams in a Khon Kaen prison later this month. He is accused of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, after sharing an article on the BBC Thai website, titled 'Profile: Thailand's New King Vajiralongkorn'.
