Court to decide on PAD case Feb 24

Court to decide on PAD case Feb 24

The Supreme Court will decide on Feb 24 whether to hear a National Anti-Corruption Commission lawsuit against former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and three others over the 2008 crackdown on People’s Alliance for Democracy protestors.

About 5,000 People’s Alliance for Democracy supporters move out of Government House and rallied in front of the parliament building, where former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat’s government was due to deliver a policy statement on Oct 7, 2008. (Bangkok Post photo)

The court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions set the date Wednesday to decide whether to accept the suit, which alleges the former officials abused their power by ordering the crackdown in front of parliament on Oct 7, 2008.

The three other defendants are Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a former deputy prime minister, Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon, the former police chief, and Pol Lt Gen Suchart Muankaew, the former Metropolitan Police chief.

They are accused of violating of Section 157 of the Criminal Code, the National Anti-Corruption Act of 1998, and sections 295 and 302 of the 2007 constitution.

According to the lawsuit, the government, under Mr Somchai, ordered police to remove PAD protesters who blocked the entrance to parliament. Two people were killed and 471 others injured.

Following a petition filed by the PAD, the NACC in 2009 found there was sufficient grounds to take legal action against the four and forwarded a case against them to Chulasing Wasantasing, the then attorney general.

On Oct 9, 2012, the Office of the Attorney General decided not to indict the four and returned the case to the NACC.

The NACC gathered evidence and on Jan 7 this year filed a lawsuit itself against the four defendants at the Supreme Court political division. The court, in a plenary session, decided Wednesday to set up a panel of nine judges to consider whether to accept the case for further proceedings.

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