The Supreme Court yesterday postponed handing down a ruling, for the third time, on a group of 85 people who invaded the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) building during anti-government protests in 2008.
The hearing was rescheduled for Feb 21 next year after two defendants, Prasert Duangsap and Wanchai Raksayos failed to turn up to hear the ruling.
Mr Prasert, the 37th defendant, cited health reasons, while court officials could not deliver a summons to Mr Wanchai's current address because his house was demolished.
A new order instructing him to attend the Feb 21 hearing was placed at the court.
It was the third postponement of the Supreme Court ruling on this case.
The hearing was originally scheduled on Aug 25 this year, but it was postponed to Oct 12 after some defendants failed to appear. The Oct 12 hearing was put off to yesterday for the same reason.
The case was related to the storming of the state-owned NBT building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road on Aug 22-25, 2008, as part of protests to topple the then Samak Sundaravej government.
Eighty-five men, known as the "Srivichai Warriors", led by Thanate Khamchoom, forced their way into the compound, allegedly damaged assets worth 600,000 baht, used force to prevent two TV news anchors from broadcasting and forced them to leave the station.
The suspects, who acted as guards for the People's Alliance for Democracy were charged by public prosecutors with criminal association and assembly of 10 or more people to commit acts causing unrest.
During the trial, Manit Attharat fled and the case against him was dismissed until he was brought before the court.
On Dec 30, 2010, the Criminal Court sentenced Mr Thanate to 30 months in prison while the others got jail terms ranging from nine months to 24 months.
Sentences were suspended for six of the men, since they were juveniles at the time the crimes were committed. They were required to report to authorities during the suspension.
On Nov 17, 2014, the Appeal Court slashed the jail sentences for the defendants who faced between three to eight months in prison.
A total of 82 defendants turned up for the ruling yesterday. Most of them were granted bail during the Supreme Court's review of the case.