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The Appeals Court is scheduled today to convene a hearing to rule on the matter.

In the appellate argument, the defence contends that police acted suspiciously to complete the questioning and subsequently the report within one day.

It states that the arrests are unwarranted because the activities of the nine PAD leaders are part of political activism as sanctioned by the Constitution and that police could questioned the nine at anytime without the warrants. 

It further argues that police have exaggerated the charge for treason without sufficient evidence to back up.

It also says, if it pleases the court, three legal experts and a number of senators are willing to be summoned to testify their opinions on the matter.

After PAD-led protesters stormed the two broadcasting stations of NBT Channel and raided Government House on Tuesday, police sought and received on the next day the arrest warrants approved by the Criminal Court.

The warrants specify four serious charges, including treason which is punishable by life imprisonment or death sentence, if convicted.

On Thursday the defence team petitioned the lower court for a charge reduction. The petition was turned down on the next day on grounds that the warrants were merely a first step to question the nine suspects and that the nine could avail themselves to the review of the charges after giving their respective statements.

Under the Criminal Procedural Code, the lower court was obliged to sanction the warrants as sought by police if evidence showed cause to suspect wrongdoing although this does not mean the suspects would be guilty as charged, the court said in its ruling.

The nine suspects are Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, Pipop Thongchai, Somkiart Pongpaiboon, Somsak Kosaisuk, Suriyasai Katasila, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornrattananont and Therdpoom Chaidee.