Red-shirt co-leader Jatuporn Prompan faces revocation of his bail after emerging as a possible candidate to run in a by-election in Bangkok.
Jatuporn willing to contest by-election : Red-shirt co-leader Jatuporn Prompan greets Pheu ThaiMPfor Don Muang Karun Hosakul before giving a speech to redshirt supporters at the Kosum Ruam Chai market in the Don Muang area. Mr Jatuporn has said he is willing to run in a by-election in the district if Mr Karun is disqualified as anMPby the Supreme Court. APICHIT JINAKUL
Mr Jatuporn said yesterday that he was willing to run in the by-election in Don Muang district if standing Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul is found guilty of electoral violations.
However, the Constitution Court has asked the Criminal Court to revoke his bail on terrorism charges.
This prompted Mr Jatuporn to threaten to file legal action against the Constitution Court judges. He said the charter court had formally asked the Criminal Court to cancel his bail on Thursday.
The revocation was sought on the grounds that Mr Jatuporn allegedly verbally attacked the Constitution Court over its ruling to suspend the charter amendment bill. The alleged comments were made at the red-shirt rally outside parliament on June 7.
Mr Jatuporn said the court had no authority to seek the bail cancellation because that should be the job of the prosecutor.
He said the Constitution Court might have overstepped its power and he plans to take legal action against the court judges.
Mr Jatuporn was jailed last year on terrorism charges following his role in the 2010 red-shirt demonstrations. He was subsequently allowed out on bail.
The Criminal Court has scheduled July 23 for examining the Constitution Court's request.
Mr Jatuporn yesterday addressed a gathering of red shirts in Constituency 12 of Don Muang where Mr Karun is the MP yesterday.
He said that if Mr Karun loses his MP seat, he will offer himself as a candidate in the by-election.
Mr Karun has been disqualified by the Election Commission (EC) for defaming Democrat Party candidate Tankhun Jitt-itsara during the campaign before last year's general election.
The disqualification ruling has been passed to the Supreme Court. Mr Karun can continue to work as an MP pending the court's verdict.
Pheu Thai leader and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit has maintained the final decision on the candidacy rests with the party and no decision on the matter has been made.
He shared Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's view that it was premature to talk about a potential candidate to succeed Mr Karun.
The EC voted 3-2 against Mr Karun. Minority commissioner Sodsri Satayathum reportedly said that red-carding an MP on the basis of defamation was unprecedented.
Mr Jatuporn said the EC's ruling was questionable as it appeared to have been a rushed decision.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said slander amounted to a violation of election law because it could cause misunderstandings and hurt the votes for the defamed candidate.