Police yesterday submitted their investigation file to prosecutors with a recommendation not to press charges.

The 20 university students, four of them under 18, joined the network in passing out

and posting fliers in Sukhumvit sois 38 and 40 on March 26.

While they were doing this they were detained by director Wanchai Thanomsak and municipal officials who lodged a police complaint charging them with violating the

cleanliness preservation law for putting up advertisements and campaigning in public places without permission.

Police released most of the students on bail while the four minors were sent to juvenile detention centres where they were held for a few hours before being bailed.

"We considered the case

and concluded it shouldn't be sent to court," said Pichet Phusanpaiboon, deputy superintendent of Thong Lo Police Station.

Surapong Tovijakchaikul, a representative of the network, said he believed at first that police would drop the case because the students did nothing wrong and the evidence could not show their guilt.

The arrests of the students was seen by Surapong and parents as too harsh and they will seek justice against the director, as well as petition the Administrative Court against the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

The governor last week set up a fact-finding committee and gave it 10 days to report on the case.

Surapong said he went to file an appeal with the Interior and Justice ministries about

the case, especially about the juvenile detention centre regulation that requires officials to put the students in jail instead of preparing a room for them while waiting for bail. 

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot

The Nation