Supreme Court defers verdict in case relating to siege of Prem’s residence

By The Nation

 

Nattawut Saikuar

 

The Supreme Court has postponed the reading of its verdict in the case against five protest leaders over the siege of late Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda's residence in 2007, due to a defendant’s illness.

 

The court on Wednesday put off the verdict reading to September 23 after one of the defendants, Veerakan Musigapong, asked for a postponement due to his illness.

 

In his written request, Veerakan said he had been treated at a hospital since Tuesday (July 30) for vertigo, losing his balance and having difficulties urinating. His lawyer submitted the document to the court, along with his doctor's health certificate.

 

The other defendants in the case are Nopparut Worachitwuthikul, Nattawut Saikuar, Vipoothalang Pattanaphumthai and Weng Tojirakarn. Nopparut led a group called White Doves 2006 and the four others were key leaders of the red-shirt United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship.

 

The defendants were charged with illegal assembly, causing unrest, carrying weapons and resisting the orders of on-duty officials.

 

On July 22, 2007, the defendants laid siege to Prem's residence, accusing him of being behind the military coup in September 2006.

 

All the defendants except Veerakan showed up at the court on Wednesday. About 40 red-shirt supporters were present to offer them moral support.

 

Nattawut and Weng told reporters that they were not worried about the case and they would accept the court's verdict, whether it ruled them guilty or not.

 

However, Nopparut said he was concerned about the case, maintaining that he had been wrongly charged with assaulting on-duty officers. He swore that he had not harmed physically any police officer in the incident.

 

"I stick to fighting in a non-violent way. I have never hurt anyone," he said.

 

In September 2015, a lower court sentenced Nopparut to two years and eight months in jail, and the four others got four years and four months each.

 

They all appealed. Nopparut denied involvement in the alleged physical assault of the police officers. The four others argued that they had acted in self-defence.

 

In January 2017, the Appeals Court upheld the lower court's imprisonment verdict of two years and eight months for Nopparut. But the court reduced the jail terms of the four UDD leaders due to their confessions. Their imprisonment was reduced to two years and eight months each.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30373986

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand  2019-07-31

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

"Having difficulty urinating".

 

And meanwhile we are all pissing ourselves laughing at the current judicial system controlled by the military.

34 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The Supreme Court has postponed the reading of its verdict in the case against five protest leaders over the siege of late Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda's residence in 2007,

Only 2007?

Seems like yesterday. The wheels of Thai justice moves as swiftly or as slowly as money chooses to afford.

59 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The defendants were charged with illegal assembly, causing unrest, carrying weapons and resisting the orders of on-duty officials.

 

it's a little difficult to send for many years imprisonment on those charges, especially if they are made up. Still, military is pushing for so many years, because Prem was second to god and siegeing his residence must be treated by the harshest punishment 

4 hours ago, londonthai said:

it's a little difficult to send for many years imprisonment on those charges, especially if they are made up. Still, military is pushing for so many years, because Prem was second to god and siegeing his residence must be treated by the harshest punishment 

Yup, it's hard to believe the puppet masters 40 year rein of terror is finally over. 

4 hours ago, pegman said:

Yup, it's hard to believe the puppet masters 40 year rein of terror is finally over. 

Fair idea who the next one might be or  fancies himself in the position - should it come about, it will just be a continuation - same same, but different. 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

he had been treated at a hospital for vertigo, losing his balance and having difficulties urinating

sounds like he was coached by Chalerm the Ear-Medicine-Man

No comment.
Not allowed to give my opinion on this piece so long as i live in country...

General Prem received the highest of honours. the GCMG

....god calls me god!

All those generals can have as many servants as they wish. You simply pluck them out of the army pool.

 

He can wear a catheter in prison and hire another prisoner to help him walk. I've no sympathy for this riotous mob of rabble-rousers.  He's not ill, he's just getting old, same as me.

15 hours ago, londonthai said:

it's a little difficult to send for many years imprisonment on those charges, especially if they are made up. Still, military is pushing for so many years, because Prem was second to god and siegeing his residence must be treated by the harshest punishment 

'made up'.

 

At the time many photos and videos, direct evidence that they did do it and not challnged since that they did do it.

Anybody notice any future date to read the verdict? 

5 hours ago, Artisi said:

Fair idea who the next one might be or  fancies himself in the position - should it come about, it will just be a continuation - same same, but different. 

Pr.... ?

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

been treated at a hospital since Tuesday (July 30) for vertigo

Why vertigo?

 

Simply because it cannot be checked/disputed. The patient claims it but there is no way of disproving it (scans, bloodwork, etc). Thats why they all pick vertigo 

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

'made up'.

 

At the time many photos and videos, direct evidence that they did do it and not challnged since that they did do it.

I need to clarify my post above;  should be  At that time there were many photos and videos on the media and the red shirt people involved and their party didn't deny that they had planned and executed this raid.  Given their bent they were no doubt very proud of their days work. 

A few more years of deliberating and mulling,no hurry.

regards worgeordie

19 hours ago, londonthai said:

it's a little difficult to send for many years imprisonment on those charges, especially if they are made up. Still, military is pushing for so many years, because Prem was second to god and siegeing his residence must be treated by the harshest punishment 

Careful I was under the impression the position of 2nd to God was already taken!