The Bangkok South Criminal Court on Friday afternoon released former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij's stepson on bail of 10,000 baht in his cocaine possession case, and ordered him to report to a drug rehabilitation facility on June 21.
Police from Thong Lor station took Panthit Mahapaurya, 27, to the court to seek to detain him further for the first 12-days pending further investigation. The court agreed. A relative later sought his bail and the court set it at 10,000 baht.
The court did not set any special conditions, but did order Mr Panthit to report at the end of the fourth detention period at 8.30am on June 21 to a psychosocial service centre of the courts to begin a drug rehabilitation programme.
Police told the court a small bag containing 0.92 grammes of cocaine was found in Mr Panthit's wallet during a search when his taxi was stopped at a checkpoint on Ratchadaphisek Road in the Asok area about 4.10am Thursday.
Mr Panthit is the son from a previous marriage of Vorakorn Chatikavanij, Mr Korn's wife. Mr Korn wrote on his Facebook page on Friday that his stepson had apologised and promised to improve himself.
His family would let the matter to proceed in accordance with the law and give him a second chance and assistance, he added.
Mr Korn also offered his own apologies and said he believed his son would have learned his lesson when he had to spend a night in a police station cell.