The Bangkok South Municipal Court on Wednesday rejected a police request for arrest warrants against two anti-government protest leaders after news of their imminent arrests led to a rally in Asok being cancelled.
The court threw out the request for warrants for the arrest of Nattawut Saikuar, a red shirt co-leader, and Sombat Boonngam-anong, a red shirt activist, who co-organised a rally at the Asok intersection.
The court said that since the warrants were being sought on criminal charges punishable by a prison term of no more than three years, police must issue a summons for the two before moving on to seek arrest warrants.
A police source said investigators were working to release a summons for the two men.
Earlier in the day, Mr Nattawut announced he had called off a planned rally at Asok intersection after hearing that he may be served with a warrant.
Mr Nattawut posted a message on his Facebook page notifying supporters of the cancellation.
He said the rally at the Asok intersection would not take place as he was trying to verify information about the warrant.
Also on Wednesday, more serious charges were sought against Mr Nattawut, Mr Sombat and Thanat Thanakit-amnuay, a core anti-government figure.
Seksakol Atthawong, an assistant minister at the Prime Minister's Office, visited Thong Lor police to formally request the police to press charges, including incitement, sedition and attempt to overthrow a government and colluding to the emergency decree and the disease control law.
The charges stem from the Asok rallies which have been held every evening since Sept 2.
The protest leaders said the intersection would form their rally bastion.
Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), dismissed as fake news an allegation that the police ran a vehicle into a 14-year-old boy before arresting him during a clash with the Thalu Gas protesters on Tuesday evening.
He said only one person, a man identified as Wisit Fuengsila, 45, was injured during the police operation to catch some of the protesters at the time.