Arrest warrant approved for Suthep over storming of ministry; 2 charges rejected
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The Criminal Court yesterday approved an arrest warrant for rally organiser Suthep Thaugsuban, who is accused of laying siege to the Finance Ministry.
Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Kachornsak Pansakorn said Suthep would face two criminal charges.
The first is for assembling more than 10 individuals to stage a physical assault causing agitation.
And the second charge is of physical assault related to the siege at the ministry.
Kachornsak said the court rejected the police request for two other charges – one for inciting people to break the law and another for inciting a labour strike.
The rejected charges were based on Articles 116 and 117 of the Criminal Code.
In an earlier court hearing, Suthep’s lawyer Jessada Anujari submitted a motion opposing the warrant.
Jessada also asked for the summonsing of two witnesses to testify on Suthep’s behalf.
The witnesses were two Democrats, Thaworn Senneam and Withaya Kaewparadai.
Commenting before the issuing of the warrant, Thaworn said protest activities at the ministry and the Budget Bureau were not criminal violations as argued by the police.
Protesters did not trespass on the government installations, because officials had opened the gates to welcome the crowds, he said.
He further stated that police were obliged to twice summons Suthep before seeking to arrest him.
Speaking again after the warrant was issued, Thaworn said the defence team would today file for an appellate review.
He said Suthep would not report himself to police because he was busy with his duties serving the country.
“Should police decide to have the warrant served at the rally site, they are welcome to try,” he said.
