One of the leaders of the anti-establishment “United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration” group, 22-year-old Benja Apan, was taken to the Central Women’s Correctional Institute this afternoon (Friday), to be held on remand on lèse majesté and several other charges, after the Bangkok South Criminal Court rejected her bail request.
Ms. Benja is accused by Thonglor police of involvement in a protest on August 10th, in front of the Sino-Thai Tower building on Asoke Road in Bangkok, during which she gave a speech, lashing out at the government and allegedly criticising the monarchy.
Thonglor police escorted Ms. Benja to the Bangkok South Criminal Court today to seek court approval to detain her for 12 more days, until October 19th, pending the questioning of several more witnesses. The police objected to her being granted bail.
The court rejected her request for bail on the grounds that the charges against her carry severe penalties and the fact that she had previously appeared before this court.
