Asia-Pacific

Thai rejects the bail for key 'Red-shirt' leader

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-28 17:14

BANGKOK - Thai Criminal Court on Tuesday dismissed the request filed by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to withdraw bail for the antigovernment "Red-shirt" core member and opposition Puea Thai party-list MP Jatuporn Prompan.

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The court, however, prohibited Jatuporn from giving interview to media, taking part in political rally of five people or more or distributing documents intended to disseminate distorted information.

He will be only able to speak out in parliament as an MP.

DSI asked the court to revoke Jatuporn's bail after it discovered that Jatuporn had meddled with witnesses and evidence, committed additional offences and revealed what he claimed to be leaked DSI reports stating troops were responsible for the deaths of people during forceful dispersal, according to DSI chief Tharit Pengdit.

Tharit said if Jatuporn violated court's order, he would again petition court to withdraw his bail.

The pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), alias "Red-shirt" movement, held nearly three-month demonstrations in Bangkok's downtown and other provinces in a bid to demand the government to dissolve the parliament.

Jatuporn along with other 19 UDD leaders and supporters were charged with terrorist offences after May-19 dispersal of the demonstration. Most key protest leaders remain under detention with terrorism charges and bail was rejected but Jatuporn was granted bail as he had parliamentary immunity.