The Military Court has rejected bail for the eight junta critics abducted by the military on Wednesday, citing the authority of a junta order and the severity of the crime.
On Friday, 29 April 2016, the court rejected the offer, by lawyers and relatives of the eight junta critics abducted by the military on Wednesday, of 100,000 baht as bail for each critic, ruling that the eight committed serious crimes as a network.
The eight critics, Supachai Saibutr, Harit Mahaton, Noppakao Kongsuwan, Natthika Worathaiwich, Worawit Saksamutnan, Yothin Mankongsanga, Thonnawan Buranasiri and Kannasit Tangboonthina, were charged under the Computer Crime Act and Article 116 of the Criminal Code, the sedition law. Two of the eight, Harit and Natthika, were also accused of lѐse majesté.
Seven of the eight was to be taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison and Natthika, the only female, to the Central Women's Correctional Institution.
In the morning, the Military Court rejected a petition to release four critics, including Harit, Natthika, Noppakao and Supachai, Matichon Online reported.
According to Matichon Online, the petition was filed by Pawinee Chumsri, a lawyer from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, on 27 April, stating that the soldiers intruded into the residences of the four with no search or arrest warrant. Furthermore, the soldiers did not inform relatives or lawyers of the four about the location of the detention site.
The petition concludes that such actions are an arbitrary use of the authorities’ powers. Therefore, the petition asked the court to release the four and investigate the soldiers involved in the operation.
The Military Court rejected the petition, ruling that the military had the legal power to arrest the four under NCPO Order No. 3/2015, which allows soldiers to arrest those who commit crimes against national security and detain them for up to 7 days, Matichon Online reported.
The four allegedly were the administrators of the Facebook fanpage “We love Gen Prayut”, a satirical view of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta head.
The authorities transfer the eight to prison
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