The Supreme Court has instructed the Criminal Court to read its verdict concerning Tarit Pengdit, former director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and three other officials within 30 days. The instruction comes after the defendants have repeatedly sought postponements of the reading of the verdict.
The Criminal Court has set July 10th for the publication of the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The Criminal Court was also instructed to summon a doctor at Phyathai 2 hospital, Dr. Ayuthinee Singhakowinta, for an explanation, after the court found a discrepancy in her signatures on doctor’s certificates confirming that Tarit’s health rendered him unable to attend court. The court has set July 3rd for a special hearing with Dr. Ayuthinee
The four officials, including Tarit, were charged with malfeasance in office for filing criminal charges against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban after they ordered a crackdown on red-shirt protesters in 2010, resulting in a number of protesters being killed and wounded.
In 2017, the Supreme Court ordered the acquittal of Abhisit and Suthep.
The Criminal Court initially acquitted Tarit and his co-defendants, but the Appeals Court found them guilty and sentenced each of them to two years in prison.
Tarit did not appear before the Criminal Court today (Friday), but submitted another request, through his lawyer, to postpone the reading of the verdict. The other three defendants showed up as scheduled. This is the 9th postponement request from Tarit.
During the last court hearing in the case, Tarit, through his lawyer, changed his plea to guilty, hoping that the Supreme Court would pass a lenient sentence. The court is yet to consider whether his new plea will be accepted.
The prosecution lawyer contends that changing the plea to guilty at this late stage is not possible because the case has dragged on for many years.
