Watana appears at TCSD on computer crime charges

Watana appears at TCSD on computer crime charges

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Watana Muangsook, a key Pheu Thai Party figure, attended the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) on Thursday in response to charges that he entered false information into a computer system.

The charges, which relate to recent Facebook posts criticising the government, also accuse him of defaming courts. Watana first acknowledged the charges last Monday.

The charge alleges that from July 19 to 26, the politician criticised the justice system on issues ranging from the drafting of a new law on criminal procedures against political office holders to the ongoing prosecution against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Watana on Thursday spent 30 minutes at the TCSD headquarters before being allowed to leave.

Watana said police initially planned to seek Criminal Court permission for his detention but he refused to cooperate while maintaining that police had no rightful authority to detain him at this stage. 

He said they decided to let him go after he threatened to take legal action against the officers involved if they went ahead with detaining him.

He said police could have detained him last Monday, when he first appeared before them. However, since they decided to let him go at that time they no longer had the authority to detain him.

Watana said the attempt to “gag” him may be related to the court verdict in a case against Yingluck which is scheduled to be delivered on August 25. 

Thousands of her supporters are expected to gather at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders on that day.

Authorities have discouraged people from gathering at the court on the day of the verdict, warning that such an act could be against the law. 

Police last week summoned owners of 21 passenger vans used to transport Yingluck supporters to her previous court hearings. They were charged with operating on a route outside the permit areas and using the vehicles for a purpose not covered by the licence.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30323497

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-11