Feb 13 – The Civil Court today ordered the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to withdraw the bank account seizures of anti-government protester Seri Wongmontha within a week.
The court’s injunction involved the seizure of Mr Seri’s seven bank accounts by the DSI which was charged with over-exercising its power.
Mr Seri, a key leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), filed a lawsuit with the court against DSI director general Tarit Pengdith for withholding his seven bank accounts given his political activities.
The court said the DSI could not withhold a person’s account unless he/she was found to have violated the law.
#######
Feb 13 – The Criminal Court on Thursday rejected a police request for approval to detain leading protest leader and former director of T-News satellite television station Sonthiyan Chuenruthainaitham for another seven days for questioning.
Pathumthani deputy police commissioner Pol Col Visoot Chatchaidej said Mr Sonthiyan, a leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who was arrested on Monday, was taken to the court today as police had to seek permission from the court to detain him.
Mr Sonthiyan appeared at court this morning with a cheerful face and told reporters that the police have treated him well. He telephoned his daughter to send a lawyer to the court to submit a bail request.
Pol Col Visoot said the investigation is not yet complete so police need to ask for the court permission to detain Mr Sonthiyan for a further seven days.
He gave reassurances that the detainee has been well treated and that he has the right to seek bail, but noted that the protest leader knows that bail could not be granted as he is being detained under the state of emergency.
Following the deliberation, the court dismissed the police request, reasoning that the four-day detention is sufficient as the detainee has fully cooperated with the police during the questioning, so it is unnecessary to further detain him.
Mr Sonthiyan told reporters before being taken back to Border Patrol Police headquarters in Phathum Thani that he thanked the court for providing him justice and threatened legal action against the caretaker government for ordering his arrest and the raid at his house.
Police are set to release Mr Sonthiyan this Sunday after he completes the seven-day arrest period under the emergency decree. (MCOT online news)
democracy for burma 
You must be logged in to post a comment.