Suspected JI members released in Bangkok

[george]

Suspected JI members released

BANGKOK: -- A former doctor of a hospital in Thailand's southern border province of Narathiwat and his three associates who were acquitted from a charge of suspected members of the Jemaah Islamiya (JI) Islamic extremist group earlier this week were released by the Appeal Court on Friday.

The Appeal Court allowed the defendants to be released on bails, worth Bt7.0 million totally, or about Bt1.5 million each.

The former doctor, known as Dr. Vamahadee Vadao, of Narathiwat Rajanagarin Hospital, and his three associates left the Bangkok Remand Prison Friday evening.

The defendants were acquitted by the Supreme Court last Wednesday due to insufficient evidence.

However, their detention had continued until the plaintiff's appeal process was completed, as ordered by the court.

The four defendants were arrested by Thai security officers and were accused by public prosecutors of having involved in illegal JI activities masterminded from abroad, including a sabotage plan against five foreign embassies in Bangkok.

The court's verdict was hailed by many Muslims from the South who attended the court's hearing.

--TNA 2005-06-04