Criminal Court rejects murder lawsuit against Abhisit, Suthep
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The Criminal Court on Thursday rejected the murder lawsuit against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban.
The court reasoned that the lawsuit, which was initiated by the Department of Special Investigation, should have instead been initiated and investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The DSI asked public prosecutors to file murder charges against Abhisit and Suthep, who is now a Buddhist monk, related to the fatal crackdowns on red-shirt protesters in 2010. The DSI charged that Abhisit and Suthep, who was the director of the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation at the time, ordered troops to use live bullets against the protesters knowing well that they would be killed.
The lawsuit said the operations led to the killings of Phan Khamkong, a taxi driver, 14-year-old Kunakorn Srisuwan, and injury to Samorn Maithong, a van driver.
The Criminal Court said since the two gave the orders related to their administration and did not committed the acts personally, the case must be sent to the NACC for the conducting primary investigations. If the NACC finds grounds to suspect guilt of the two, the case must be sent to the Supreme Court for Holders of Political Office for trial, the Criminal Court said.
Abhisit and Suthep listened to the court’s verdict but declined to give any comment to reporters.
