Thai Red Shirt Leader Arisman Gets Second Bail In Days

[webfact]

Thai 'Red Shirt' leader gets second bail in days

BANGKOK, December 29, 2011 (AFP) - A top "Red Shirt leader" in Thailand accused of terrorism over his role in last year's opposition rallies was freed on bail Thursday for the second day in a row, his lawyer said.

Arisman Pongruangrong, who narrowly avoided capture by police commandos in April 2010 by climbing out of the third-floor window of a Bangkok hotel, surrendered to authorities in early December after nearly 20 months on the run. He was freed on bail in the Thai capital on Wednesday evening, only to be immediately re-arrested on charges of defaming a member of the opposition Democrat Party in a separate case.

He was released again on Thursday after appearing in a court in the southern province of Songkhla and posting bail of 200,000 baht ($6,300), his lawyer Suchaiwut Chaosuanklauy told AFP.

The sum was significantly less than the six million baht ($190,000) bail Arisman had to pay in the terrorism case a day earlier.

Arisman is believed to have hidden in Cambodia after fleeing the Thai capital after the bungled attempt to arrest him in connection with mass anti-government protests that turned deadly in 2010.

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded during the two months of rallies, which drew about 100,000 Red Shirts, many of whom support fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The controversial ex-leader's sister Yingluck Shinawatra is now prime minister after a resounding election victory by his party earlier this year.

Arisman also faces separate charges related to the Red Shirts' storming of an Asian summit in the Thai resort city of Pattaya in 2009, forcing its cancellation as leaders were evacuated.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-12-29

[webfact]

LIBEL SUIT

Arisman granted bail in defamation suit

The Songkhla Court on Thursday granted bail to red shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong, who was charged in a defamation suit against a Democrat MP.

Arisman flew to Songkhla this morning to face the charge. Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha of Songkhla filed the suit against Arisman, who was yesterday granted Bt6-million bail by the Court of Appeals in Bangkok on charges related to terrorism in connection with last year’s political disturbances.

Shortly after being freed from Bangkok Remand Prison, police detained him in another case and he was taken to Prachacheun police station to face libel proceedings brought by Sirichok.

The lower court had ruled twice to reject Arisman's bail application on the grounds of his being a flight risk, as he had fled following the May 19, 2010, dispersal of red-shirt rallies at Ratchaprasong. He surrendered earlier this month.

-- The Nation 2011-12-29

[webfact]

Songkhla Court frees Red Shirt Arisman on bail

SONGKHLA, Dec 29 - The Songkhla Provincial Court on Thursday released Red Shirt activist Arisman Pongruangrong on bail after he appeared to acknowledge a defamation charge filed by Democrat MP for Songkhla Sirichok Sopha.

Raphiphan Pongruangrong, Mr Arisman's wife, posted her Pheu Thai Party member of parliament status as collateral to secure her husband’s release. The court then granted bail for Mr Arisman and set the hearing on the case for Feb 22, 2012.

Speaking to the media before leaving court, Mr Arisman said he was grateful for the court's mercy and that he would follow its suggestion that he should settle the case with Mr Sirichoke.

The Red Shirt activist argued that he simply picked up the media report on the issue which landed him in court. Whether the case would be transferred to a Bangkok court or not is up to his lawyer who will later file a request to the court.

He also faces terrorism charges related to his role in last year's protests.

Mr Arisman surrendered to authorities on Dec 7 after having been on the run for more than a year.

His first two bail requests were rejected by the lower court.

The Court of Appeals on Wednesday released him after his lawyer posted bail of six million baht.

The former pop singer pledged that the Red Shirt movement from now on would step up its efforts to promote national reconciliation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-29

[nong38]

You might think this is a put up job, I could not possibly comment.

[Insight]

Who needs The Biggest Loser, when you have Thai jails and (not so significant amounts of) bail money....?

Mafia Thailand. Can't help but feel sorry for her.

[animatic]

Maybe he was just sent back north to prevent Songkla

from becoming a 'Red Shirt Shooting Gallery' for the Insurgents.

I am sure if he was held, many Red Shirts would show up to protest,

and that might look a far too tempting target for the local bomb crews and snipers.

So get the problem out of their front yard.

No nutter here, no problem on top of the normal problems.

Edited December 29, 2011 by animatic

[whybother]

Red-shirt hardliner Arisman turns himself in to Chiang Mai police on charge of giving speech to incite chaos;submits Bt100,000 bond for bail /TANN

That's about 4 now isn't it? At least since he got back from his little holiday. Pattaya (although, I'm not sure if bail was involved there), Bangkok, Songkhla, and now Chiang Mai.

I don't know how many are outstanding from before that.