Court to ponder bail requests for 5 Thais tomorrow

BANGKOK, 17 January 2011 (NNT) – The Cambodian Appeal Court will consider bail requests for five other Thais arrested in the Thai-Cambodian disputed border area for illegal entry and trespassing military zone on 18 January 2011.

According to Information Department Director-General and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Thani Thongphakdi, the court will deliberate on the issue tomorrow after an appeal was filed to the court on 14 January 2011. The court earlier dropped the bail requests for the five Thai prisoners.

The five detainees now in Prey Sar prison include Thai Patriots Network (TPN) coordinator Veera Somkwamkid, his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, Mr Samdin Lertbutr, Mr Tainae Mungmajon and Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth’s aide Kitchaponthorn Chusanasevin.

Earlier, the five, plus two other Thais already granted bail, were charged with trespassing on Cambodian territory and intruding into a military zone on 29 December 2010. Mr Veera and Ms Ratree have also been additionally charged with espionage, and consideration of the case is in process.

Later on 13 January, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court allowed bail for only two members of the group. They are Mr Panich and Ms Narumol Chatvaratana. The two are now staying at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh since they are not allowed to leave Cambodia following the bail condition.

The spokesperson added that there had been no court progress for the spying case of the TPN members. Regarding the intrusion charge on the seven Thais, he believed that the court would deliberate on the case within this week.