Red Shirt Leader Arisman Released On 6 Million Baht Bail

[webfact]

Bail Granted for Red-shirt Hardliner

The Appeals Court has granted bail for red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruengrong with six million baht bond but barred him from leaving the country and inciting chaos.

Suchaiwut Chaosuankluaymai, lawyer of jailed red-shirt hardliner Arisman Pongruengrong, revealed that he filed a bail request for his client on Monday with bond offered at five million baht along with new evidence.

This is the third bail request following the first two which were turned down by the court.

Arisman's lawyer said the new evidence consists of reasons why the red-shirt leader feared for his safety and had to flee the country following the end of the red-shirt protests last year.

One of the reasons was that Arisman feared he would be assassinated next after key red-shirt member and former army expert Major General Kattiya Sawasdipol was shot and killed during the anti-government protests.

The Appeals Court scrutinized the request and agreed to grant Arisman's temporary release but required bond at six million baht.

The court also barred Arisman from leaving the country and conducting any action which may provoke or instigate further chaos in the country.

However, Arisman will have to stay another night in the Prachachuen Police Station's jail as he is also facing a libel lawsuit filed by Songkhla Democrat MP Sirichoke Sopha last year at the Songkhla Provincial Court.

Tomorrow, Arisman will be brought to Songkla Province to stand trial there.

The red-shirt hardliners announced that he will file a bail request with a bond of 50,000 baht tomorrow with the Songkhla Court to seek his client's temporary release.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-28

[RogueExpat]

What were they thinking?

He will break the conditions and then ask what he did wrong? He doesn't understand?

This guy should be on capital charges relating to terrorism and mass murder for playing his part in causing 90+ deaths.

[whybother]

Why don't the courts just set a bail requirement at the start of proceedings? They waste so much time having bail hearings with the person on remand just offering more and more until a certain level is reached.

[rixalex]

As expected, any hope given by the court's earlier refusal to grant bail, that justice would be fairly served, has proven totally false.

[Lite Beer]

Urgent: Arisman released on bail

The Appeals Court Wednesday allowed red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong to be leased on bail.

He was required to deposit Bt6 million-worth assets as a guarantee and was not allowed to leave the kingdom.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

[pimay11]

Urgent: Arisman released on bail

The Appeals Court Wednesday allowed red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong to be leased on bail.

He was required to deposit Bt6 million-worth assets as a guarantee and was not allowed to leave the kingdom.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

"was not allowed to leave the kingdom"

[h90]

Why don't the courts just set a bail requirement at the start of proceedings? They waste so much time having bail hearings with the person on remand just offering more and more until a certain level is reached.

Because than everyone would cry out that it was agreed before. So they play a little game so the public doesn't think the courts are bribed or pressured into doing it.

[Bakseedaa]

Why does NOTHING surprise us in Thailand....Land of smi-lies.......! A man who deserves the Death Sentence.... and...

[exeter]

Lucky he happened to just come up with 6m bts he found in his pocket, where on earth did that come from? Flood stricken chums in the north east perhaps, ah it was on its way to his chums when it was intercepted by a bloke who was going to take it personally to them, just as soon as he can get out of this trumped up charge!

[Payboy]

Urgent: Arisman released on bail

Don't really understand the "urgent" part.

[TAWP]

Why don't the courts just set a bail requirement at the start of proceedings? They waste so much time having bail hearings with the person on remand just offering more and more until a certain level is reached.

Indeed, there I like the system in US and other western nations, where they have a nation (or in US, state)-wide recommended bail-amount per type of crime and the judge set it after initial hearings...no such drivel as trying to have multiple negotiations where one side up their pledge while the other 'holds out' until they are happy...it is just silly.

Edited December 28, 2011 by TAWP

[webfact]

Arisman's wife welcomes his bail

The Nation

Red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong's wife, Rapipan Pongruangrong welcomed the Appeals Court's decision to grant bail to her husband.

She said the release was like a very precious present for the family.

"Our family has been waiting for a long time to get a chance to be together again," Rapipan said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

[Crushdepth]

Arisman's wife welcomes his bail

The Nation

Red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong's wife, Rapipan Pongruangrong welcomed the Appeals Court's decision to grant bail to her husband.

She said the release was like a very precious present for the family.

"Our family has been waiting for a long time to get a chance to be together again," Rapipan said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

Too bad the victims of incited violence won't have that chance.

[TAWP]

Arisman's wife welcomes his bail

The Nation

Red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong's wife, Rapipan Pongruangrong welcomed the Appeals Court's decision to grant bail to her husband.

She said the release was like a very precious present for the family.

"Our family has been waiting for a long time to get a chance to be together again," Rapipan said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

Dear Rapipan, you could have been together sooner if your husband hadn't spent 1.5 year in Cambodia, no doubt without meeting any local girls...

Edited December 28, 2011 by TAWP

[elcent]

wow, suddenly no more flight risk with six million for bail. What did he do with the 100 millions he got to manage during the riots?

No house arrest either. The mind boggles.

Will he go to the next gasoline station now?

[webfact]

RED MOVEMENT

Third time lucky: Arisman makes Bt6 million bail

The Nation

The Criminal Court on Wednesday freed on bail red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong, who surrendered earlier this month to face five terrorism-related charges in connection with the political conflicts in 2009 and 2010.

He was required to deposit Bt6 million worth of assets as a guarantee and was forbidden to be involved in any disturbances or to leave the kingdom.

His wife, Rapipan Pongruangrong welcomed the court's decision, saying the release was a very precious gift for the family.

"Our family has been waiting for a long time for the chance to be together again," Rapipan said.

This is Arisman's third bail request since turning himself in on December 7 after being on the run for more than a year. The Court earlier rejected the requests as he could not sufficiently convince it that he would not flee again. It added that there was a court-issued arrest warrant for him in connection with separate defamation cases.

One of the red-shirt movement’s militant leaders, Arisman had been at large after he managed to slip through police checkpoints in May last year, in the wake of riots by red-shirt protesters after their leaders ended a months-long anti-government rally abruptly. About 90 people were killed during the red shirts’ rally, including protesters, passers-by and soldiers.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

[alexakap]

Just as planned.

Enjoy the show, folks.

[elcent]

I'm afraid the govt wont make it another six month.

You may say this has nothing to do with the govt, but then, think about bribe etc..

This may well be a deal to save the yellows from their wrong doings too. So all the victims are left getting the middle finger, including the population in TH.

Thaksin can now safely return and being granted the same all over again.

This has also nothing to do with reconciliation, I mean a real one. at best, it's a reconciliation of the yellow and red elites.

It could be that this govt wont be around for another 6 months now. Or was he released for "deer hunting"?

Edited December 28, 2011 by elcent

[Soupdragon]

Did I miss something but I don't see any mention of him being required to surrender his passport(s)

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I was going to ask the same question. Strange that it isn't addressed, isn't it...

But at this point, he's probably only a flight risk if he were to be ultimately convicted of anything...

And presumably, he and others like him are busy right now finding someway to ensure that won't happen.

[whybother]

Did I miss something but I don't see any mention of him being required to surrender his passport(s)

It wouldn't matter if he surrendered his passport. The ministry has a policy of issuing new ones to convicted criminals, so someone that has only been *charged* for a crime should have no problem getting a replacement.

[elcent]

Did I miss something but I don't see any mention of him being required to surrender his passport(s)

If bail is granted, he must/should be also on electriconic surveillance.

[patjem]

Utter madness, but we almost expected this to happen anyway - TiT!

Pity that justice can be overridden at a price, which in reality is not-so-high.

[webfact]

Court releases Red Shirt activist on bail

BANGKOK, Dec 28 - Thailand's Court of Appeals on Wednesday granted bail for Red Shirt activist Arisman Pongruangrong with Bt6 million collateral but barring him from leaving the country and not repeating his alleged offences.

Mr Arisman, 47, surrendered to the authorities in early December after being on the run for more than a year.

The pop singer-turned-activist was among 19 Red Shirt leaders charged with terrorism for their alleged roles in instigating the crowd to move toward disorder, chaos and violence to topple the then Abhisit Vejjajiva government during the Feb-May, 2010 anti-government protests.

Mr Arisman denied wrongdoing.

The lower court earlier rejected two bail attempts citing a risk that he might flee prosecution. His lawyer then refiled his client's bail application on Monday.

The Court of Appeals said Wednesday that Mr Arisman turned himself in to the authorities despite knowing that he would certainly be arraigned and that he acknowledged the severity of the charges against him and the consequent possible punishment.

Given that Thailand’s situation has returned to normal, the court deemed he was not a flight risk. Furthermore, the investigation is now complete and any attempt to influence the witnesses is unlikely to happen, the court said.

In addition, the prosecutor has no objection for his temporary release and no instance suggesting that the defendant would pose any danger as he had done in the past. The court therefore granted bail upon his lawyer's request in exchange for Bt6 million collateral.

Mr Arisman's family then posted Bt6 million in cash as a surety.

However, the court barred the Red Shirt activist from leaving the country without its permission and any repeat of his past actions, that is his alleged incitement of disturbances, is prohibited.

The Criminal Court is scheduled to examine evidence on the case on Feb 6. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-28

[whybother]

"Given that Thailand’s situation has returned to normal, the court deemed he was not a flight risk."

I thought the reason that they didn't give him bail previously was because he WAS a flight risk.

[tlansford]

it seems to be a crisis that this guy is out on bail.

He used to not be in the country.

Now he has been in custody and will be prosecuted. Next "urgent" item please...

[Reasonableman]

So if you can scrape together 6 million you're out on bail, and if you can't, you stay in the slammer. Seems fair enough. It's the same standard for all (who can raise 6 million, that is). The rest can rot.

[rixalex]

it seems to be a crisis that this guy is out on bail.

He used to not be in the country.

Now he has been in custody and will be prosecuted. Next "urgent" item please...

No great surprise that the same people who had no problem with governments reissuing passports to convicted felons on the run - or at least certain governments to certain convicted felons - also see no story in wanted criminals who have spent over a year running from the law, being granted bail, on the proviso they promise to not run away again. No surprise at all.

[Joeb]

Never saw anything on how he got back in the country. He showed up at the Pattaya courts first. Wonder how long he hadbeen running around the country. Shouldn't immigration have identified him and had him arrested at the border, which ever border he came across.

[tlansford]

it seems to be a crisis that this guy is out on bail.

He used to not be in the country.

Now he has been in custody and will be prosecuted. Next "urgent" item please...

No great surprise that the same people who had no problem with governments reissuing passports to convicted felons on the run - or at least certain governments to certain convicted felons - also see no story in wanted criminals who have spent over a year running from the law, being granted bail, on the proviso they promise to not run away again. No surprise at all.

yes, no surprise at all.

I tell you what, if he skips out on his bail, you can send me a PM and say "I told you so". And if he doesn't, then I'll probably forget to do the same...

Like the passport issue, this isn't that big of a deal.

Edited December 28, 2011 by tlansford