News
Arisman’s Bail Appeal Planned
From pop star to fugitive, Arisman became the talk of the town when he led a group supporters from the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship
Detained key Red Shirt personality Arisman Pongruangrong will appeal to the court next week to seek his release on bail, his lawyer said on Thursday.
Wasuthep Srisoda, Mr Arisman’s lawyer, said he postponed the second bail attempt to next week, from the earlier scheduled filing today, because he needed more time to collect additional evidence.
As the court rejected the first bail request, citing concern over possible flight as Mr Arisman was at large for over a year before his surrender, Mr Wasuthep defended his client’s delayed surrender saying that it was because he feared for his life.
The lawyer said Mr Arisman had filed a complaint to police about death threats at Huay Kwang Police Station in Bangkok and in Chiang Rai province and that he would collect details on those as evidence for his bail appeal next week.
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) lawyer Karom Ponthaklang said on Thursday that he needs time to collect information for the court and that Bt2 collateral will be prepared for the second bail bid, while Mr Arisman’s wife, Pheu Thai member of parliament Rapeephan Pongruangrong will also offer her position as MP as bail bond for her husband who now faces 12 severe charges.
Mr Karom made his remark as he and UDD leaders Thida Thavornsreth, Suporn Attawong and Ms Rapeephan visited the detained UDD leader at Bangkok Remand Prison this morning. Mr Arisman reportedly remains in good spirits.
The fugitive Red Shirt activist surrendered to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Thursday morning and submitted his request for bail with a Bt1.2 million bail bond.
The Criminal Court however rejected his bail bid, citing concern over his possible flight after he had been at large for a long period of time and sent to Bangkok Remand Prison immediately after the court order.
Mr Arisman was among 19 Red Shirt leaders, including fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra charged with terrorism for their alleged roles in instigating the crowd to move towards chaos and violence to topple the then Abhisit Vejjajiva government during Feb-May, 2010.
Regarding Mr Arisman’s surrender, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said cooperation among all parties is needed to create reconciliation.
She emphasised that the reconciled atmosphere and peace will occur when the rule of law is equally applied to everyone without discrimination.
In other developments, Corrections Department Director-General Pol Col Suchart Wonganantchai said the renovation of the temporary detention centre in Laksi district will be complete Dec 20 and political prisoners will be transferred there the following day.
The corrections chief said some 100 political prisoners will be transferred to Laksi prison as the Independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (ITRCT) and the cabinet earlier agreed that political prisoners should be detained separately from criminal convicts.
Col Suchart said Mr Arisman, if his bail bid remains rejected, will also be transferred to the renovated detention centre. (MCOT online news)
