The Criminal Court has postponed the reading of the verdict of the Supreme Court against five core members of the red-shirt movement, also known as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), until April 30^th. The cases relate their roles in the siege of the official residence General Prem Tinsulanonda, the late president of the Privy Council, about 13 years ago.

The court ordered the postponement because one of the five defendants, Parut Worachitwuthikul, did not show appear in court today.

Charged by the public prosecutors for the illegal siege of General Prem’s residence on July 22^nd, 2007, as part of a protest to force his resignation from the Privy Council, were Parut Worachitwuthikul, Veerasak Hemathulin, Wanchai Naputtha, Veerakarn Musikapong, Natthawut Saikua, Viphuthalaeng Patthapoomthai and Dr. Weng Tochirakarn.

The Criminal Court acquitted Veerasak and Wanchai, but sentenced Parut to two years and eight months in prison for assaulting a police officer, who was guarding General Prem’s Sisao Thewet residence.  The four others, including Veerakarn, Natthawut, Viphuthalaeng and Weng were given four years and four months each after they were found guilty of illegal assembly, assault and using other people to obstruct the police in the performance of their duty.

The Appeals Court upheld the acquittal of Veerasak and Wanchai and the two years and eight months’ sentence for Parut.  The sentences for the remaining four were, however, reduced to two years and eight months each.

Originally due to be published on September 23^rd last year, the Criminal Court postponed the reading of the Supreme Court’s verdict after Veerakarn, Natthawut, Viphuthalaeng and Weng changed their pleas to guilty.

All five defendants are currently released of a bail of 500,000 baht each.

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Court postpones reading of verdict on former red-shirt leaders over 2007 storming of General Prem’s residence