Thai Court To Rule If Jatuporn Remains On Bail

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Court to rule if Jatuporn remains on bail

By The Nation

The Criminal Court yesterday scheduled it would rule today on whether to revoke bail for outspoken opposition MP and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan, as requested by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit yesterday testified before the court in support of his request to have the bail revoked. Tharit argued that Jatuporn, who was charged with terrorism and inciting unrest, had violated conditions for his temporary release by interfering with evidence, committing repeat offences, and meddling with the investigation.

The DSI move followed Jatuporn's claim he had obtained leaked probe results from the agency that showed soldiers were responsible for the deaths of red shirts and rescue workers at Pathum Wanaram Temple in May. Tharit said yesterday the DSI had never come to such a conclusion and that Jatuporn's claim distorted the actual autopsy findings.

Tharit rejected allegations by Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit, who is Jatuporn's colleague from the opposition party, that the DSI chief was acting on "a political order" in seeking bail revocation. He said it was his duty as chief DSI investigator to enforce the law.

Jatuporn, a key leader of the red-shirts' anti-government rally between March and May, cited his immunity as a member of Parliament to get temporary release while other protest leaders have been in remand since their arrest or surrender at the end of the unrest in late May. Some hard-line protest leaders fled the country and are on the run.

Jatuporn's lawyer Karom Ponthaklang yesterday submitted a written protest to the DSI request, arguing that the case was no longer under the DSI's jurisdiction as public prosecutors had brought the case to the Criminal Court.

At the court yesterday, 20 red-shirt protesters greeted Tharit with boos upon his arrival. However, there was no serious incident due to a police presence.

Jatuporn yesterday said he considered the DSI move an attempt to silence him, noting it was the DSI's fourth attempt to seek revocation of his bail.

"They try very hard to put me in jail in order to stop me from disclosing the truth. I believe the court will offer me justice and make the truth known," he said.

The red-shirt leader also accused the government of being insincere in its promise of reconciliation. He said the government agreed to help detained red shirts get bail, but the prime minister later said the decision to grant temporary release would depend on the court.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said Jatuporn appeared as an obstacle to reconciliation breakthrough. "He has been an obstacle since May. We made proposals about an early election but he has always been the problem. Possibly it's because he thinks he has immunity," Abhisit said.

In a related development, the Criminal Court yesterday scheduled a January 17 examination of lists of witnesses and evidence presented by the defence and the prosecution in a case against 19 red-shirt leaders. Jatuporn, Veera Musigapong, Nattawut Saikua, weng Tojirakarn, and others are accused of terrorism and inciting unrest in connection with the political unrest that led to the deaths of 91 people as well as riots and arson attacks.

-- The Nation 2010-12-28