Tarit Pengdit, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), said there is no reason to investigate his own actions as a member of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) during the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters, because he was just following orders - not issuing them.
Mr Tarit confirmed on Friday that former prime minister Abhisit Vejajiva and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban had now been formally summonsed to acknowledge the charges on Dec 12. Both men face a charge of premeditated murder over the death of Phan Khamkong, a taxi driver shot during the deadly crackdown in 2010.
The DSI chief said the date had, however, been postponed to Dec 13 because Mr Abhisit would be travelling abroad. He said he wa not involved in the decision to indict the two men.
"I was merely supervising the investigation team and played no part in the investigation itself," Mr Tarit said.
Asked about calls that he should also be indicted because he was also a member of the CRES, Mr Tarit responded that he was assigned only to attend the CRES meetings and monitor the situation. All of the orders to use force ultimately came down from Mr Abhisit, as prime minister, or Mr Suthep as director of the emergency centre.
He said not all people who were part of the CRES would be charged because most were just following orders given by their superiors.