Abhisit, Suthep to face murder charges over death of taxi driver
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Ex-Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaughsuan are to face a charge of murder over the death of a taxi driver during the 2010 red shirt rallies, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said on Thursday.
The tripartite meeting has decided to charge former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban under article 288,” said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith.
He said his department would summon both Abhisit and Suthep, now MPs with the opposition Democrat Party, to acknowledge the charge next Wednesday.
“I expect both to report on the set date and not try to delay until December 21, the day the parliamentary session starts, enabling them to obtain parliamentary immunity," he said.
Tarit said Abhisit as the prime minister and Suthep as the director of the then Centre for Resolution of the Emergency, must be held responsible for the death of Phan Khamkong, a red taxi driver, who the court said was killed by security troops. The shooter was not identified.
He insisted his office has taken legal action on both sides of the 2010 violence as it has filed charges against 295 red supporters. The charges against Abhisit and Suthep are the first on the government's side, he said.
