The volunteer nurse accused of helping to plan a string of bomb attacks across Bangkok has denied any role in the plot, and said she warned her alleged co-conspirators against embarking on a campaign of violence.
Speaking through her lawyer from a cell at Klong Prem Central Prison - formally called the Central Women's Correctional Institution - Nattatida Meewangpla admitted to being a member of the Line group called Thai Pakee ("Thai Assembly"), along with several of her co-accused.
She alleged that fellow suspect Supaporn "Dear" Mitarak had informed her that the group members wanted to launch a string of bomb attacks in the capital as a "Valentine's Day present" to deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Ms Nattatida's lawyer said that she opposed the plan, and tried to persuade the group to abandon it. "She told Dear that Mr Thaksin wouldn't appreciate it since he is not a violent person," her lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, told the Bangkok Post Sunday.
Mr Winyat said Ms Nattatida had denied any involvement in the planning or execution of the bomb attacks. "She said it is true that she knew people who were [allegedly] involved with the attacks, but she had nothing to do with the planning," he said.
When her warnings were not heeded, Ms Nattatida said she left the Line group. She did not specify when this occurred, although she said it was before the twin blasts at Siam Paragon on Feb 1 and the Criminal Court grenade attack on March 7.
However, she maintained her friendship with one of the group members, Surapol Iam-suwan, who she later asked for a loan of 5,000 baht to help cover the rent of a laundry shop she was running with her boyfriend in Muang Thong Thani.
She said she intended to borrow from Mr Surapol's personal funds, and was not aware that the money transferred to her had allegedly come from donations made to the group by red-shirt supporters.
Police have alleged Mr Surapol was hired by the group to plant bombs in five locations around Bangkok, for which he was to allegedly collect a fee of 50,000 baht.
The comments were the first time Ms Nattatida, a key witness in the 2010 Wat Prathum Wanaram killing case in which six people were shot dead by soldiers, has spoken to the media since her release from military custody last week.
She was taken from her cousin's home in Samut Prakarn by a group of soldiers on March 11, after which she claims she was blindfolded and moved to an unidentified military installation.
During her detention, Ms Nattatida said she was kept in a windowless room. She told Mr Winyat that she faced threats of violence and feared she would be killed.
The military initially denied it had played a role in Ms Nattatida's disappearance, but was later forced to admit it had "invited" her for talks which lasted seven days.
Four of the nine suspects in the case have claimed they faced torture during military detention, including one who showed photographs to the media of severe bruising to his chest. The army has threatened to launch legal action against anyone who alleges that the military tortured any of the suspects. Ms Nattatida's lawyer also suggested she had been mistreated.
"She told me that one military officer took the phone from her and read her Line messages. He was trying to force her to admit that she was part of the bomb attack plan, but she refused," Mr Winyat said. "So that officer took the phone and hit her on her chest. She explained that she was terrified and cried a lot." She also said her initial request for her own lawyer was denied.
The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights on Saturday demanded a full investigation into the allegations of mistreatment, saying in a formal statement members had seen "the traces of torture still visible on the bodies of some suspects".
"Any attempt contrary to that, including the threatening of a lawsuit against the complainants... shall further intimidate the suspects making them too scared to seek any legal remedies," the group said.
Ms Nattatida has been charged with terrorism, conspiracy to commit crime, possession of illegal war weapons, violating NCPO orders and lese majeste. Mr Winyat said she faces the prospect of the death penalty or life in prison.