'Pai Dao Din' denies illegal assembly rap

'Pai Dao Din' denies illegal assembly rap

Jatupat 'Pai Dao Din' Boonpattararaksa hugs his mother outside the Khon Kaen military court. She brought him his Khon Kaen University graduation gown from the ceremony which he was not allowed to attend. (Photo by Chakrapan Nathanri)
Jatupat 'Pai Dao Din' Boonpattararaksa hugs his mother outside the Khon Kaen military court. She brought him his Khon Kaen University graduation gown from the ceremony which he was not allowed to attend. (Photo by Chakrapan Nathanri)

KHON KAEN: Student activist Jatupat "Pai Dao Din" Boonpattararaksa and seven other suspects denied charges Thursday of holding a public assembly to protest against the military regime at Khon Kaen University (KKU) in 2015.

The defendants were attending the first hearing at a court at the 23rd Military Circle in Muang district.

Mr Jatupat was taken to the court from the provincial prison. The seven others, who were temporarily released on bail, are Chartthai Noiunsaen, Phanuphong Srithananuwat, Chatmongkol Jenchiewchan, Narongrit Uppachan, Natthaporn Arthan, Duangthip Kararit and Neeranut Niemsap.

Yaowalak Anuphan, chief of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group, said there were nine defendants in the case, but Rangsiman Rome, a pro-democracy activist, failed to appear.

Col Phithakpol Chusri, of the Provincial Peace and Order Maintaining Command, said an arrest warrant for Mr Rangsiman was submitted to the Special Branch Bureau.

The court also ordered the detention of Mr Phanuphong for an anti-coup activity in May 2015, but his family confirmed they would submit a 10,000-baht bail request to the court.

The second hearing has been scheduled for March 21, next year.

"After this, a team of lawyers will meet the clients and prepare evidence against the charges concerning the activity held at Khon Kaen University on July 31, 2015," Ms Yaowalak said.

She said only Mr Jatupat, a Khon Kaen University student, has been detained over the past year as he was indicted for alleged lese majeste offences and violation of the Computer Crime Act.

Last year, he was charged after sharing a BBC Thai article on his Facebook page on Dec 2. He was granted bail two days later but the bail was revoked in late December after police said he had defied the law.

The activist faces a possible 15-year prison term or more if found guilty.

Before Thursday's hearing, Mr Jatupat posed for a photo in a graduation gown of the KKU's Law Faculty with his parents. The gown was brought by his parents as Mr Jatupat was unable to attend his graduation ceremony due to his imprisonment.

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