Police have pressed three serious charges against Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit involving a pro-democracy rally he attended four years ago.
The politician was yesterday charged with sedition (Section 116 of the Criminal Code), helping a suspect escape (Section 189) and the assembly of more than 10 people which causes unrest (Section 215). If convicted, he is liable to jail terms of up to seven years, two years and six months respectively.
He denied the charges and will give his written testimony on May 15.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul visited Pathumwan police station to interrogate the 40-year-old politician himself.
As a result of the sedition charge which involves national security, Mr Thanathorn will be tried in the military court. Mr Thanathorn's lawyer Kritsadang Nutcharas said he would petition for the case to be tried in a non-military criminal court.
The charges were filed against him by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Police said the complaint dates back to 2015, when Mr Thanathorn, who was running his family's auto parts empire at the time, allegedly "provided assistance" to a leader of protesters against the 2014 military coup who violated a junta ban on gatherings of more than five people.
Yesterday morning, many people, some carrying flowers and placards, gathered outside the police station to give him moral support. As soon as he arrived, the cheering crowd moved closer to greet him.
Some in the crowd waved placards with such messages as "We Save Thanathorn", "Thanathorn poses no threat to national security, but a threat to Uncle Tu's PM's seat [PM Prayut Chan-o-cha].''
The former tycoon used a police megaphone to thank and address his supporters.
"Nobody wants to see what happens today used as a tool for some ill-intentioned group. Everyone should wait outside peacefully. After the procedures, we'll meet again,'' Mr Thanathorn said.
He also met and thanked diplomats from the US, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, as well as UN officials, who came to observe the situation.
Col Burin Thongprapai, the NCPO's legal affairs chief who filed the complaint, said on Wednesday about 20 demonstrators had been at the Pathumwan police station in 2015 and some had fled in a white van. Officials found out later that the van belonged to a company of which Mr Thanathorn's mother was a director, said Col Burin.
Mr Thanathorn told media that after the demonstration by the New Democracy Movement in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on June 24 that year, police rounded up the core protesters for violating the junta's ban on the assembly of more than five people and took them to the Pathumwan police station but did not detain them.
Concerning the van, Mr Thanathorn said he saw one of the core demonstrators, Rangsiman Rome, walking alone on Rama IV Road. He stopped the van and offered to take him to his destination.
Mr Rangsiman later joined the FFP and ran in the March 24 election under its banner.
Mr Thanathorn also faces a separate cybercrime charge over a speech he made on Facebook in July during which the NCPO said he allegedly distorted information. Prosecutors will decide on April 26 whether to put him on trial for the cybercrime charge.
His FFP came third with 6.3 million votes in the March 24 election.