Case

Case name

Sarawut : Defying NCPO order

Defying NCPO order 7/2014

Name of persons / Name of Media

Sarawut

Status of Accused

Sentence suspended

Offense / order

Defying NCPO order 7/2014

Summary

Sarawut had showed signs off called for releasing all Red Shirt leaders who were detianed at Meng Rai Maharaj Military Camp at Chiang Rai. He was detained at Meng Rai camp for 7 days. After that, he was taken to the court to request for a temporary detaintion and he got a temporary released on bail in the sum of 20,000 Bath.

Basic information

Background of accused

He graduated from the Sukhothai Thammathirat University in Faculty of Law. He is the owner of an optical store. He is a leader of Cyber Warriors for Democracy Group, which is an online activist group calling for democracy in Chiang Rai province (Red Shirt group). He and a group of the Red Shirts have presented evidences and filed a charge against Suthep Thaugsuban for delivering the speech that stimulated people to overthrow democratic system. The charge was based on the 2007 Constitution, Section 68 stating that no one shall exercise the rights and liberties prescribed in the Constitution to overthrow the democratic regime, as well as the Criminal Code, Section 113, 114, 116 and 117 with regard to any offences against the internal security of the kingdom.

Legal Claims

Others (gathering more than 5 people)

Form of restriction on freedom

Charge filed
Type of media

Public Assembly
Province

Chiang Rai
Court

Chiang Rai Military Court
Black case

คำอธิบายคดีดำ ภาษาอังกฤษ

No: ก.1/2557

Details of offence according to charge

After the coup, he has been making campaigns and activities against the coup by showing anti-coup signs containing messages such as “Release Pho-Khun’s sons”, “Thinking differently is not a crime”, and “Holding a sign is not a crime” in order to demand from the military to release the Red Shirt leaders who were previously taken to Meng Rai Maharaj military camp in Chiang Rai province due to their violation on NPCO order No.7/2014. He has raised the anti-coup signs at many landmark places in Chiang Rai such as Mengrai intersection, in front of Chiang Rai Criminal Court, in front of a police station, and the City Clock Tower.

Circumstance of arrest

On 31 May 2014, a military official went to observe around the accused’s neighborhood by claiming that he wanted to buy a land in the area, thus he asked his name and surname from a village headman. Afterwards, a small troop was sent to raid his house and since he knew that he was being after by the military, he went to his neighbor’s house and hid himself there. Although, the military failed to reach him; he was then summoned to report at Mengrai Maharaj military camp on 1 June 2014.

Progress of case

1 June 2014

He reported as summoned at Mengrai Maharaj military camp and he was detained at the camp for 7 days.

7 June 2014

After 7 days at the camp, he was moved to Chiang Rai Police Station and detained for one night. As the investigation officer has not finished the case’s report yet; therefore, he would be taken to the court for requesting the first phase of detention for 12 days.

9 June 2014

He proposed to self bail in the sum of 20,000 Bath and he must report to the court on 18 June 2014.

20 June 2014

He posted a message on his personal Facebook that he had to go to the Martial Court.

14 August 2014

The Chiang Rai Military Court sentenced the defendant to 6 months and fined in the sum of 10,000 Bahts. The court however mitigated his penalties by half on the ground that he pleaded guilty. The defendant shall be sentence to 3 months and fine in the sum of 5,000 Bahts. The court also suspended his sentence in the period of 1 year given that the defendant had good behavior, never been sentence before and need to feed his family.

The Verdict

Trial observation record

Additional Information

Reference

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