Korkaew's bail request rejected
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The Criminal Court on Monday rejected bail request by Pheu Thai MP and redshirt leader Korkaew Pikulthong, leading to his being sent back to the Bangkok Remand Prison.
Korkaew's bail was revoked in November on the grounds that he intimidated Constituition Court judges. He was released during the last parliamentary session.
Rejecting his bail request, the Criminal Court reasoned that Korkaew failed to demonstrate regret for what he had done.
“In the bail request and the hearing of the 5th defendant (Korkaew), there has been no clear evidence to Court that the 5th defendant regrets his violation of the (previous) bail conditions nor he has done anything to rehabilitate the bad consequences of his conduct. Indeed, the fifth defendant insisted his conduct was not in violation of the court's conditions," the court said.
In the court's consideration, Korkaew presented Interior Minister and Pheu Thai Party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan, Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol and red shirt leader Thida Thawornseth as his witnesses, all of whom guaranteed his behaviours. They said Korkaew was a man with a gentle nature and during the parliamentary session had never made provocative comments to the media nor stirred political chaos. He also helped Charoen in inviting people with different political views to discuss reconciliation and helped campaign among eligible voters to vote in the Bangkok gubernatorial election.
The court revoked bail for Korkaew on November 30 last year. He was released as he has MP immunity during House session.
Election Commission member Prapun Naigowit said the EC had resolved that Korkaew is still qualified as an MP as he is still a suspect and has not been jailed by the court’s ruling.
