Thirteen yellow-shirt co-leaders will have to pay damages worth 522 million baht in total for the blockades of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang nine years ago after they missed the appeal deadline and the Supreme Court refused to extend it on Thursday.
The 13 members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will have to pay Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) around 522 million baht in damages, or 40.2 million baht each on average, plus a 7.5% interest rate from Dec 3, 2008 to the last payment date. The legal execution period is 10 years.
The amount was calculated from the damage incurred by the seizures of the two airports from Nov 24-Dec 3, 2008, according to the ruling of the Appeal Court in 2011.
The 13 defendants had been given 30 days to appeal the ruling but their lawyer could not file an appeal with the Supreme court within the deadline. He asked the Supreme Court to extend it, citing the delay of the court's notice.
The Supreme Court found the excuse unacceptable and dismissed his request. It also ordered his client to follow the ruling of the Appeal Court but did not say when the first payment should be made.
The defendants include Pol Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul and Suriyasai Katasila.
They led PAD supporters to close the two airports during street rallies aimed at ousting the government of Somchai Wongsawat seen by them as a proxy of Thaksin Shinawatra.
The blockades caused chaos for airlines and air travellers who were forced to use other airports, mainly U-Tapao in Rayong.
AoT sought damages from the 13 defendants in the Civil Court while public prosecutors filed criminal charges against 98 people, including the 13, with the Criminal Court.
The criminal charges are in the process of witness hearing.