A fact-finding committee has been set up to investigate an allegation by a core member of the former People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) that two senior Court of Appeal judges demanded 175 million baht to clear him of all charges over the street rallies against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra in 2013-2014.
Judiciary spokesman Sorawit Limparangsi said in a statement dated June 26 that the inquiry panel was set up under an order issued by Chuchai Wiriyasunthornwong, president of the Appeal Court.
Mr Sorawit said Mr Chuchai took this action in response to a report by the Isara news agency that in early June, Chotiwat Luangprasert, the Supreme Court president, issued an order to set up a committee to investigate a petition for justice filed with the Court of Justice by a core member of the PDRC.
The petition related to the Criminal Court's ruling on Feb 24, 2021, on a case in which 39 PDRC members, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, were charged with rebellion and other offences in connection with the street demonstrations to oust the government of Yingluck in 2013-2014.
In this case, the Criminal Court found 15 PDRC core members guilty as charged and sentenced them to prison terms without suspension, prompting the group to take their case to the Appeal Court.
The petitioner, who was not named, said while the court was considering the case, two high-level Appeal Court judges demanded a sum of money from him, claiming they could talk to a panel of judges who were close to a "higher-up" to clear him of all the charges.
They demanded 175 million baht, but the amount was later lowered to 49 million baht and then 35 million baht. The judges wanted the payment made by Sept 30, 2022, before the "higher-up" retired, the petitioner alleged.
According to Mr Sorawit, after the petition was filed with the Court of Justice, the president of the Appeal Court, not the Supreme Court as earlier reported by Isara news, had ordered the setting up of a committee to investigate.
The investigation results would be reported to the Supreme Court president, in line with official procedure, Mr Sorawit said.
Of the 39 PDRC members charged with rebellion, the Criminal Court sentenced 15 to imprisonment, and 12 were given suspended jail terms. The other 12 were acquitted.