A Military Court has rejected a fourth application for bail for two junta critics accused of lѐse majesté, citing the seriousness of the charge and flight risk, despite submissions of one million baht each.
On Wednesday, 15 June 2016, the Bangkok Military Court rejected bail of one million baht for Harit Mahaton and Natthika Worathaiwich, two junta critics accused of lѐse majesté for sending messages deemed defamatory to the Thai Monarchy in a private Facebook chat. According to a Matichon Online report, each suspect submitted a one million baht bail request.
The Court ruled that the charge is very serious, thus there is a high risk of the two fleeing the country. The Court, however, urged the authorities to complete the investigation into the case before the end of current custody period. The two have been detained for almost two months.
This is the fourth time that the court has denied bail for the two. They were arrested on 29 April together with six other junta critics. The eight were charged under the sedition law for their alleged involvement in a Facebook page called ‘We Love Gen Prayut’, which featured political satire mocking the Thai junta leader.
On 10 May, the court granted bail for the eight junta critics. Harit and Natthika, however, were immediately re-arrested on the lèse-majesté charge. The lawyer for the two previously offered 500,000 baht to bail each suspect but the court rejected this, citing the same reasons as now.
Harit Mahaton (second from left) chained at his ankle when the eight was taken to the court on 10 May 2016 Photo from Sa-nguan Khumrungroj
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