Criminal Court Summons Red Shirt Leaders Over Bail Violation

[webfact]

Criminal court summons red shirt leaders over bail violation

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court has said it will summons red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong on August 9 to review whether his behaviour last week - comments viewed by some as intimidation of the Constitution Court - violated bail conditions related to a terrorism case.

Chief Judge of the court, Tawee Prachuaplarp, spoke yesterday after a meeting of judges. He said the court had received a request from Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat to review Kokaew's behaviour.

The court had seen video discs, newspapers, and transcripts of TV and radio programmes and considered Kokaew might have violated the bail conditions, Tawee said.

Other red-shirts had behaved in a similar manner so the court would summons other defendants in the three terrorism cases on the same day. Veerakarn Musigapong, Arisman Pongruangrong and Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Natthawut Saikua are among 20 people in total.

The Criminal Court has already summonsed former Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan on Monday (July 23) after a request by the Constitution Court spokesman to review his bail.

Tawee said the court would hear Nipit first then allow defendants to bring evidence to defend themselves. If the court revokes bail, the defendants will be able to seek a review by the Appeal Court or the Supreme Court but they cannot stop the trial. However, August 9 is during the next House session, so red-shirt leaders who are MPs may claim immunity and refuse to appear in court. But the court would continue to try the other defendants.

The trial would be suspended for MPs with immunity but once the parliamentary session is over, the cases would continue and the MPs must appear in court. Otherwise, they would be considered to have escaped and would face warrants and then arrest without trial, the chief judge said.

Tawee said defendants who get bail must be careful. Saying things without any care about the court's mandate would yield bad results for them and society.

"May I warn the defendants who are MPs, especially the leaders (of the red shirts), although you were exercising the right of expression, the opinions must not affect other people's rights and must not be incitement that encourages people to violate the law. For Kokaew, I have seen him very close to violating the bail conditions. This affects the institution of justice. It's the duty of the Criminal Court to take charge," Tawee said.

Kokaew said last week the red shirts threatened the Constitution Court judges with citizen's arrest if their ruling last Friday blocked moves to amend the charter.

Meanwhile, some 90 red shirts from Pathum Thani filed a complaint with police yesterday against the nine Constitution Court judges. The group was led by Wutthipong Kachathamkhun, an announcer at a red-shirt community-radio station in Pathum Thani.

The protesters gathered in front of the Constitution Court at the Government Complex at 11.30am. They carried banners condemning the judges and displayed a mock coffin with the names of the nine judges before burning it. They also gave out copies of their complaint filed at Kukot police station in Pathum Thani against the judges.

Wutthipong said his group alleged that the nine judges had committed sedition and falsified documents to "pretend to had the authority to make a ruling" on constitution amendments.

The complaint was filed with police on Saturday because the group felt the judges had no authority to try complaints against charter amendments, he said.

The court ruled that charter amendments could be made on an article-by-article basis but advised that a new charter could not be drafted unless a public referendum is held first.

-- The Nation 2012-07-17

[Buchholz]

He's forgotten his bail condition and needs to refresh his memory with a "time out"...

Seven red leaders freed on bail

The Criminal Court on Tuesday approved the bail of seven red leaders on the conditions that they will not get involved in any disturbances and comply with a ban against travelling abroad.

The seven, including Natthawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn and Kokaew Pikulthong, each put Bt600,000 as guarantee for the temporary release. The bail approval followed the Monday's hearing.

The Nation

Edited July 16, 2012 by Buchholz

[Moruya]

It's what he deserves.

Act like an animal - off to your cage.

[asiawatcher]

Bail violation? None more so from their illustrious mentor. Skipped bail and on the run. Lead by example.

[OzMick]

While the Criminal Court is looking at bail conditions, the Constitutional Court should be making its decision on disbanding PTP for illegal use of banned politicians and putting up candidates facing criminal charges.

A coordinated decision could have their bail revoked at the same time as their party list MP status, and they could proceed directly to the cells.

[Thai at Heart]

Well the situation that MP's enjoy absolute immunity is the most nonsensical of all laws.

It actually encourages criminals to clamour to become MP's.

[Moruya]

Well the situation that MP's enjoy absolute immunity is the most nonsensical of all laws.

It actually encourages criminals to clamour to become MP's.

There may now be more in the inside than the outside!

[OzMick]

Well the situation that MP's enjoy absolute immunity is the most nonsensical of all laws.

It actually encourages criminals to clamour to become MP's.

Not only, but also allows political leaders to induce people to perform criminal acts with a promise of political immunity via the party list system. Nearly all the red shirt MPs avoiding prosecution are on the PTP party list. This system allows and encourages corruption and criminality.

[Skywalker69]

He's forgotten his bail condition and needs to refresh his memory with a "time out"...

Seven red leaders freed on bail

The Criminal Court on Tuesday approved the bail of seven red leaders on the conditions that they will not get involved in any disturbances and comply with a ban against travelling abroad.

The seven, including Natthawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn and Kokaew Pikulthong, each put Bt600,000 as guarantee for the temporary release. The bail approval followed the Monday's hearing.

The Nation

I rather se him a long "time in" lets say +1700 years.

[Skywalker69]

I have seen him very close to violating the bail conditions.

???

Edited July 17, 2012 by Skywalker69

[Thai at Heart]

Well the situation that MP's enjoy absolute immunity is the most nonsensical of all laws.

It actually encourages criminals to clamour to become MP's.

Not only, but also allows political leaders to induce people to perform criminal acts with a promise of political immunity via the party list system. Nearly all the red shirt MPs avoiding prosecution are on the PTP party list. This system allows and encourages corruption and criminality.

Now if a court was to engage in interpreting exactly what types of laws and crimes an MP was immune from that would be a massive improvement. If ever there was a part of the constitution that needed interpretation and modification, that is one bit.

[Reasonableman]

Well the situation that MP's enjoy absolute immunity is the most nonsensical of all laws.

It actually encourages criminals to clamour to become MP's.

Not only, but also allows political leaders to induce people to perform criminal acts with a promise of political immunity via the party list system. Nearly all the red shirt MPs avoiding prosecution are on the PTP party list. This system allows and encourages corruption and criminality.

Now if a court was to engage in interpreting exactly what types of laws and crimes an MP was immune from that would be a massive improvement. If ever there was a part of the constitution that needed interpretation and modification, that is one bit.

Legislators in countries using the Westminster system, such as the United Kingdom, are protected from civil action for slander and libel by parliamentary immunity whilst they are in the House. This protection is known as parliamentary privilege. Parliamentary immunity from criminal prosecution is not enjoyed by Members of Parliament under the Westminster system. This lack of criminal immunity is derived from the key tenet of the British Constitution that all are equal before the law.

[Thai at Heart]

Well the situation that MP's enjoy absolute immunity is the most nonsensical of all laws.

It actually encourages criminals to clamour to become MP's.

Not only, but also allows political leaders to induce people to perform criminal acts with a promise of political immunity via the party list system. Nearly all the red shirt MPs avoiding prosecution are on the PTP party list. This system allows and encourages corruption and criminality.

Now if a court was to engage in interpreting exactly what types of laws and crimes an MP was immune from that would be a massive improvement. If ever there was a part of the constitution that needed interpretation and modification, that is one bit.

Legislators in countries using the Westminster system, such as the United Kingdom, are protected from civil action for slander and libel by parliamentary immunity whilst they are in the House. This protection is known as parliamentary privilege. Parliamentary immunity from criminal prosecution is not enjoyed by Members of Parliament under the Westminster system. This lack of criminal immunity is derived from the key tenet of the British Constitution that all are equal before the law.

As I said, 1000 times, they could take any model from anywhere in the world and apply it here, but where would the fun in that. What's the point in being a Thai MP, if you have to put up with the inconvenience of pesky things like crimminal prosecution.

[Dap]

Well the situation that MP's enjoy absolute immunity is the most nonsensical of all laws.

It actually encourages criminals to clamour to become MP's.

Not only, but also allows political leaders to induce people to perform criminal acts with a promise of political immunity via the party list system. Nearly all the red shirt MPs avoiding prosecution are on the PTP party list. This system allows and encourages corruption and criminality.

Now if a court was to engage in interpreting exactly what types of laws and crimes an MP was immune from that would be a massive improvement. If ever there was a part of the constitution that needed interpretation and modification, that is one bit.

It would seem at this point that even murder is immune.