I was in jail, says sedition case suspect
LAWYER TO FILE COUNTER-SUIT TODAY
A key suspect in the alleged “Khon Kaen Model” insurrection plot said he could not have been involved as he had been in jail for 18 months.
Warrants for Thanakrit Thongngernperm, 49, and eight other people, were approved last week.
Police launched an investigation into the “Khon Kaen Model” group after receiving a complaint filed by the National Council for Peace and Order, which accused the nine of lese majeste and offences under the Computer Crime Act.
A lawyer for Thanakrit said yesterday he will file a counter-suit against investigators for the allegations against his client.
The suspects are red shirt supporters and the “Khon Kaen Model” is an armed movement complete with military training that emerged last year in the northeastern province.
Its key members were arrested in a crackdown by the military a day after the 2014 coup. Police and Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the deputy prime minister for security, told the media last week that the nine men had plotted subversive attacks in Bangkok and the assassinations of two key government figures.
Critics of the military regime are sceptical of the claim, saying it sounded like something intended to divert public attention from the corruption scandal surrounding the military-backed Rajabhakti Park.
Police chief Chakthip Chaijinda set up a police-military investigation team led by his deputy Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul. He said the team had found enough evidence to prosecute the men.
Two have been arrested and the rest are on the run.
Lawyer Benjarat Meethien told Prachatai yesterday that Thanakrit had been incarcerated in Khon Kaen prison since May last year for his alleged role in the “Khon Kaen Model” after the 2014 crackdown and another criminal offence.
Bail was approved but he was not released because his ex-wife had charged him with forging documents for the sale of her car.
He was found guilty and sentenced to two years in jail. He has been in prison since.
“In short, Thanakrit has been in jail uninterrupted for 18 months. So it’s impossible he could have been involved in the new [Khon Kaen Model] case,” Ms Benjarat told Prachatai.
She said the legal team met with Thanakrit yesterday. He authorised them to represent him in a counter-suit against officials in charge of the case for causing him damage. They plan to file the counter-suit today.
The “Khon Kaen Model” movement pledged to protect former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra when her government was being threatened in 2013 and 2014.
The military claimed the group was plotting unrest by mobilising its supporters, calling on security officials to disarm, negotiating with military officers and destroying financial institutions.