The Bangkok South Criminal Court rejected bail today (Wednesday) for two anti-establishment Ratsadon protest leaders, Anon Nampa and Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak.
Yesterday, the Criminal Court granted them bail of 2,079,000 baht on other charges, but the two defendants remained held on remand because their guarantor using the Ratsadon fund, did not have enough cash to pay the bail and launched an online fund-raising effort last night, rapidly attracting about ten million baht in donations.
Norasate Nanongtoom, of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), said that the Bangkok South Court rejected Anon’s bail application because he has several cases pending against him, including the “Harry Potter” protest case, and because, if he were released on bail, he may repeat the offence and cause more damage.
Regarding Parit, Norasate said that the court required the protest leader present evidence of his registration for university attendance and class time table, issued by the university, to the court for consideration first.
The conditions set by the Criminal Court mean that both are prohibited from participating in activities which may offend the Thai monarchy or the court and they are prohibited from leaving their residences between 9pm and 6am. They must also wear electronic ankle bracelets and must not obstruct court proceedings.
Both Anon and Parit were also granted bail earlier today by the Bangkok South Municipal and Ayutthaya Provincial courts in other cases, leaving only the cases at the Bangkok South Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, two members of the more hardcore “Talugas” group were denied bail on charges related to their protest in October 2021, while another activist, Chinnawat “Bright” Chankrajang, was arrested today on a lèse majesté charge.
