Suthep asks judges to go easy on cohorts
Twenty three former leaders and supporters of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) yesterday turned up at the Criminal Court for a witness and evidence examination hearing.
The defendants were divided into two batches — nine core leaders, led by Muan Maha Prachachon chairman Suthep Thaugsuban, and 14 key supporters, including activist monk Buddha Isra, TV host Anchalee Paireerak and Thai-Indian businessman Satish Sehgal.
They were indicted on several charges including insurrection, criminal association, illegal assembly and obstructing others from casting votes for their role in street protests between November 2013 and May 2014 to oust the Yingluck Shinawatra government. All pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Mr Suthep and his close aide, Chumpol Julasai, were also indicted for terrorism.
Speaking in a media interview yesterday, Mr Suthep said he would ask the court if it was possible to withdraw the case against the 14 supporters and conduct a reinvestigation.
Combining the two groups would require all 23 defendants to be present at the court for all trial sessions and would have to sit through deliberations which do not involve them even though some of them face different charges.
“We, the nine leaders, take full responsibility for our role and we will fight the charges. But for these 14 defendants, we urge the prosecution to withdraw the lawsuit and conduct a fresh investigation to determine their actual roles or connections with the demonstrations.
“Some of them [who were indicted] got on the stages and simply talked to the crowds. So the prosecution may want to reconsider whether to press charges against these defendants,” he said.
According to Mr Suthep, some of them are journalists and some are lecturers and they should be allowed to continue in their jobs.
However, Mr Suthep said he would accept the court’s decision.
He said he had not talked to the 27 other suspects who were asked to meet the prosecution to hear an indictment decision next month.
The former protest leader said he and other defendants pleaded not guilty because they believed they fought for a good cause and in the country’s best interests.
All 23 defendants were granted temporary release on bail and told not to leave the country without court permission.