Criminal Court moves the hearing of the case on the PAD’s seizure of airports to December 15th

BANGKOK, 27 May 2014 (NNT) - The Criminal Court has agreed to postpone the examination of evidence in the case relating to the seizure of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi International Airports by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to December 15th. [as some of the defendants are too ill to attend the hearing or their presences are required by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) or the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

The defendants’ attorney told the court yesterday his clients failed to show up because some of them were too ill to appear before the court while others were detained by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) or held up by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

The lawyer said Major General Chamlong Srimuang, for instance, is suffering from a heart disease which prevents him from traveling to the court.

The Criminal Court deemed that the defendants have valid reasons for not answering its call and that they do not have motives to escape from the nation, thus decided to postpone the hearing to December 15th at 10 AM.

The court also designated a meeting on the case’s evidence among the prosecutors, the attorneys and the court on August 11th.

Major General Chamlong and 96 other PAD members and supporters are charged with terrorism for their seizure of the two international airports in May 2008.


-- NNT 2014-05-27

And the joke goes on.

All 96 of them are ill and wanted by NCPO and DSI? So another of them will be ill at 10am on the 15th December. Pathetic. The justice department and specifically the criminal court also needs immediate reform.

Knock Knock?

This shows why the people don't believe in Justice in Thailand anymore.

If reform is necessary, start with firing all Courts and put a TRUE Court.

This is just making the Courts more partial and clownesque.

as some of the defendants are too ill to attend the hearing

Probably referring to illnesses brought on by old age ...............................

Thailand slips just a little deeper into a.world of inequality.

"The lawyer said Major General Chamlong Srimuang, for instance, is suffering from a heart disease which prevents him from traveling to the court."

This 'heart disease' didn't seem to affect Khun Chamlong when he was making his appearances on ASTV, must have come on since they were shut down.

Set up a Skype conference call from their homes to the court. They can hear the charges, be found guilty or not guilty and no more delays.

From my experience heart disease does not get better after time. It gets worse.

Chris, if you can run the country over Skype surely you can have a court hearing over it.

Reform of the system is clearly needed! Besides the fact that they are trying to get 97 people and their lawyers to all show up at the same time is just a way to prolong and delay justice. Six years now and we still can not get a single one of these people to court for the damages they did to Thailand. Heck, they can not even get one person to show up for court hearings - Red Shirts, PAD, PDRC, etc. without multiple excuses and delays.

Seeing that this group is anti-government (the last elected government that is) and contains current or former politicians from parties not aligned with PT (or the former parties prior), senior law enforcement, and senior military personnel - getting this on the reform agenda is about as likely as them letting Taksin back into Thailand.

So, if anyone really thinks that December 15 will have these 97 people in a single court room is likely, I think you should rethink - the odds that just 1 person is ill out of 97 if nearly a guarantee.

It would seem that some of the contestants in this show have been busy learning the tricks of the trade, some are too ill , some are arrested by CAPO and DSI wants to talk to some as well , these popular persons are in great demand, possibly for all the wrong reasons, what strange webs we weave when it comes down to politics.

Thailand slips just a little deeper into a.world of inequality.

Not really. In general, things are looking better now. I do agree that this PAD case is becoming a joke.

It''s patently obvious where reforms need to start!

"The lawyer said Major General Chamlong Srimuang, for instance, is suffering from a heart disease which prevents him from traveling to the court."

This 'heart disease' didn't seem to affect Khun Chamlong when he was making his appearances on ASTV, must have come on since they were shut down.

Well, when your 79 years old - the shutdown may have brought it on. What happens if he passes away before December? Because he will not longer be able to attend - we just keep pushing it off for the remaining 96 until everyone forgets about it - or maybe when everyone else passes away.

its only taken 6 years to get to court for terrorism, bag snatching probably under a month

I think it is time to build a special defendants hospital. Nothing to big say 500 beds, they can recover and have their cases heard at the same time. The poor red bull guy is still recovering from the sniffles in a Singapore hospital and I am sure he would welcome the idea so he can come back.

Dear General Prayuth. I know your 'to do' list is enormous and i most certainly do not envy you your job right now in these difficult circumstances. Whilst you will be considering a whole list of reforms to relaunch Thailand into a better future, could you please consider tearing down the existing justice system which is so obviously flawed and replacing it with a system that actually works fairly in relation to everyone of Thai origin no matter what position they hold in society. Nobody should consider themselves above the law under any circumstances.

I wish Thai Immigration would take a similarly relaxed approach to visa deadlines when we don't fancy showing up and queuing for hours for the right to keep supporting our Thai families and their relatives.

Like most posters here i say speed up the process. The courts are always slowed down here. This happens for both sides and rich private persons this need to change. Speedy court cases help everyone except the guilty.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Thailand slips just a little deeper into a.world of inequality.

Not really. In general, things are looking better now. I do agree that this PAD case is becoming a joke.

Just watch. All the PaD cases will disappear and the red ones will come up the line. If it changes back it will go the other way.

PAD = Protected Against Democratic principles.

A lot of "or's" in the first sentence....all kinds of reasons the people can't attend the court hearing. Don't take much to slow the Thai judicial system to a snail's pace (not to imply it was ever fast).

Is that December 2014??

The reds finally have something they can complain about that doesn't violate the martial law crack down.

All 96 of them are ill and wanted by NCPO and DSI? So another of them will be ill at 10am on the 15th December. Pathetic. The justice department and specifically the criminal court also needs immediate reform.

The article states that some of them are currently detained by the NCPO and DSI. So they are physically unable to attend unless the NCPO and DSI release them. So some sick, some in detention, and possibly some able to attend.

And there is also the government house destruction at 250m baht still to go thru the courts

All 96 of them are ill and wanted by NCPO and DSI? So another of them will be ill at 10am on the 15th December. Pathetic. The justice department and specifically the criminal court also needs immediate reform.

The article states that some of them are currently detained by the NCPO and DSI. So they are physically unable to attend unless the NCPO and DSI release them. So some sick, some in detention, and possibly some able to attend.

SOME!...

you are kidding me

Can not anyone think of individual trials?

When does the statute of limitations on this/these case(s) run out?

When does the statute of limitations on this/these case(s) run out?

Nov 2018