Appeal process begins in yellow-shirt crackdown case

Appeal process begins in yellow-shirt crackdown case

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders is set to give former metropolitan police chief Pol Lt-General Suchart Muankaew 15 days’ notice to object to an appeal lodged by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

The court early this month acquitted former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, his deputy Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, then-police chief Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan and Suchart. The four defendants were found not guilty in regard to the police crackdown on yellow-shirt protesters in October 2008 that left two people dead and more than 400 injured.

The NACC agreed with the court’s acquittal of the first three defendants, but not Suchart. It claimed that he, as a commander of the operation on the day, knew the security procedures well and had authority to issue orders to cease the crackdown and stop the use of tear gas against the protestors, but did not do so.

After the period of notice, the court will gather the plaintiff’s appeal, Suchart’s appeal objection, and the case documents to be presented before a panel of judges to consider.

This will follow the charter’s Article 195, stipulating that the court’s judges will vote to select nine senior judges, who had not taken part in the case, to consider the appeal. 

This case will be the first time that plaintiffs or defendants have used their constitutional rights to appeal rulings of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30325907

 

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