Leaders charged with instigating unrest, staging rallies to set off riots
Core leaders of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) under detention were facing two more offences yesterday in addition to their terrorism charges.
The charges of instigating unrest, which carries a maximum jail term of seven years, and organising public gatherings to stage unrest, which carries a five-year term, have been filed against 17 of the leaders, which includes seven in custody and seven on the run.
Veera Musigapong, Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan and Sathaporn Maneekhote, who are out on bail, will be required to show up in Criminal Court at 10am on Monday. The seven suspects in custody, including Natthawut Saikua, Kwanchai Praipana and Dr weng Tojirakarn, will be attending a hearing today at 1pm.
Meanwhile, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Phengdit said eyewitness accounts and security camera footage have provided sufficient evidence to implicate a man suspected of being behind a bomb attack near Big C in Rajdamri despite his protests of innocence.
Seksan Worrapitijaroenkul, who was arrested following evidence linking him to a car bomb in May, has not been charged with terrorism, Tharit added.
The suspect admitted to be "sitting" in a Honda Civic sedan installed with explosives ready for use in the Khok Khram police jurisdiction in May, but Tharit did not provide further details about his role in the incident.
However, the explosive used in the Rajdamri incident and those found in the sedan had been assembled in a very similar manner. "This indicates that same people are behind both incidents," he added.
Seksan denies he was behind the bombing near Big C Rajdamri.
Tharit said the suspect also took part in the red-shirt protests in May as an operative, though he insists he was only there as a protester.
Seksan turned himself over to the police on Wednesday and is currently in DSI custody for questioning.
His court custody should begin today, when DSI agents ask the Criminal Court to keep him under detention while the DSI investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, a man known as Bang Wai, who was accused by the suspect in the King Power bombing incident of being one of the red-shirt bomb-training officials, contacted the police to say he would surrender, but did not say when or where.
Bang Wai, also known as Suwit, served as a security guard during the protest and taught many protesters how to assemble and detonate explosives at a location near Lumpini Park, police sources said.
Police are providing extra security in many high-risk locations such as Sukhumvit, Silom and Chinatown following warnings about possible car-bomb attacks and indiscriminate assault on people.
Acting police chief Pol General Patheep Tanprasert said police were wary about large-scale bombings targeting bridges over Chao Phya River.