Democrat duo's arrest won't be sought

Democrat duo's arrest won't be sought

Suthep, Abhisit must not leave country, DSI says

The Department of Special Investigation has decided against seeking the arrest of former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban when they report to acknowledge murder charges against them tomorrow.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said Tuesday investigators have rejected a petition by red shirts urging the pair be detained once they have acknowledged the charges stemming from the 2010 street riots.

However, he said Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep must agree to four conditions in exchange for their freedom. The accused must not leave the country without informing the authorities, and if they want to travel overseas, they must seek permission from the investigation team; they must not tamper with evidence; they are prohibited from getting involved in any acts that could harm others; and they must not interfere with the investigation.

Mr Tarit said he did not believe Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep would raise any objections to the conditions.

The DSI chief spoke after meeting his investigation team to consider a petition by Kharom Polpornklang, lawyer for the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), and Noochid Khamkong, wife of taxi driver Phan Khamkong, who was killed during the 2010 political unrest.

The UDD lawyer and Mrs Noochid asked the DSI not to grant bail to Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep when they report to acknowledge charges of authorising the killing of anti-government protesters by soldiers during the April-May 2010 violence in Bangkok.

Mr Kharom said the pair faces serious criminal charges and could be sentenced to years in prison, or even death, if found guilty. Their cases were being closely watched by the international community and their requests for release on bail should not be approved.

These cases should proceed in the same way as those brought against red shirts, many of whom were detained as they await trial. If the pair were to be released on bail they must be required to strictly comply with bail conditions, the same as for the red shirts, he said.

Mr Tarit said the DSI had two options for proceeding with the case _ seeking permission from the court to detain Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep for further questioning, or releasing them at an investigator level on set conditions, he said.

He asked the UDD to respect the investigators' decision to reject detention for the pair.

Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar asked red shirts not to go to DSI headquarters when the pair arrive.

If the red shirts showed up, Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep could accuse them of putting pressure on the DSI, said Mr Nattawut, also a red shirt co-leader.

Meanwhile, the cabinet yesterday agreed with a proposal to pay 1.95 billion baht in financial compensation to affected business operators and another 300 million baht to demonstrators jailed during the political violence from 2005 to 2010.

Government spokesman Thossaporn Sereerak said 1.95 billion baht would be paid to 406 business operators. The compensation would vary depending on the damage sustained by various businesses, he said.

The cabinet also agreed with recommendations regarding compensation payments to those who were jailed during the 2005-2010 political violence, he said. A total of 300 million baht would be paid to 500 demonstrators jailed during the violence.

The amount of compensation would depend on the jail periods, the spokesman said. Those who were jailed not more than 90 days would receive 37,030 baht each while who were jailed more than 90 days but not exceeding 180 days would be paid 824,060 baht each.

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