Video Evidence At CentralWorld Arson Trial

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MAY VIOLENCE

Video evidence at arson trial

By The Nation

About '10 to 20 masked men set CentralWorld on fire' last year; prosecution to use video footage

Between 10 and 20 masked men with green scarves stormed into the CentralWorld shopping complex and set fires there on May 19 last year, a prosecution witness told the Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday.

The witness was inside the control room of the shopping complex's closed-circuit television (CTTV) system at that time, he said.

"After they came inside, they were looking for fuel to start the fire," he recounted yesterday.

The witness said CentralWorld officials tried to negotiate with the intruders but they still set the place on fire.

"Firemen worked to extinguish the first fire but the intruders set more [flames]," the prosecution witness said. He added that after the fire began spreading, all CentralWorld officials rushed out of the complex and gathered in the parking area.

The arson attack took place around the time red shirts were ending their rally at Ratchaprasong Intersection under military pressure on May 19, 2010. Despite serious fire-fighting efforts, the fires burned on for days causing one death and about Bt8.89 billion in damage.

Key evidence in the form of recordings from the CentralWorld's CCTV system was submitted to the court yesterday.

Public prosecutors said there were up to 270 damaged parties in this case. Apart from the shopping zone, office space buildings also sustained serious damage. Repair and renovation were slow and it took months before many facilities could re-open.

Two defendants in the case, Saichon Paebua and Pinij Jannarong, have pleaded not guilty.

Saichon, 29, was a red-shirt guard while Pinij, 27, was a red-shirt demonstrator. They have been charged with arson that caused injury or death, and also with violating the emergency law.

"Pinij ran into the CentralWorld shopping complex just because he saw soldiers advancing into the area," the defendants' lawyer Arkom Rattanapojjanart said.

Since his arrest on May 19, all bail requests for his temporary release have been rejected.

Arkom said Pinij had no equipment with which to set a fire. "I believe he's innocent," the lawyer said.

He has planned to bring seven witnesses in defence of his two clients in this case.

Public prosecutors, meanwhile, are expected to bring in as many as 11 witnesses. Only one plaintiff witness showed up at the courtroom yesterday.

The Bangkok South Criminal Court will continue with its hearing into the case today.

Two other defendants in this case are being tried by the juvenile court in separate hearings. They attended a court session last week and were scheduled to return for another hearing tomorrow.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

[OzMick]

Green scarves - Well that settles it then, must have been the army!

[ozsamurai]

So release the footage, then at least the cover-up can begin.

Oz

[KRS1]

He had no equipment to start a fire?

All you need is one freaking match.

Maybe the defense expects him to have a flamethrower handy?

Edited July 13, 2011 by KRS1

[ginjag]

He had no equipment to stat a fire?

All you need is one freaking match.

He must have left his fags and lighter behind before entering the building, as smoking in public places are banned :lol::lol:

[yoshiwara]

Setting light to a building that rages out of control requires a little more than a match and a couple of newspapers. Our friend Arisman told the red supporters exactly what to do to prepare for the event. Forum red apologists never ever acknowledge Arisman's contribution.

[goldmonky]

Green scarves - Well that settles it then,reds pretending to be army well they wouldn`t have worn red shirts .

[KRS1]

Anyone remember the the same people telling the red shirts to keep red bull bottles to make them into bombs?

[dutchweller]

Anyone remember the the same people telling the red shirts to keep red bull bottles to make them into bombs?

I worked in CW during and after the Arson and riots.

The day we were allowed back into the building Myself and another work mate went down into the lower car park Aria to see all the Looted and needlessly destroyed Workers cars.

While we were down there we fount at least 15 of the M150/red-bull bottels with gas and rags still in them.

With all the piles of ball bearings, Piles of bricks, axes, hammers etc..

One could not help but to think this was a Planned and executed sustained arson/riot attack not just some random people running a muck.

Also I would mention the Fire teams/fire department including some of the CW fire response teams being Shot at, Attacked, Blocked from entering, by the Arsonist as they attempted to put out or control the blaze.