Former PDRC members indicted over 2014 poll blockades
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Prosecutors yesterday filed two separate indictments against 15 former members of the now-defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee for blocking advance elections at polling stations for the 2014 election.
The stations were at Bangkok’s Bang Kapi and Bueng Kum districts.
The first suit filed stated that Tinnakorn Plodpai, 35, led seven people to block the election, violating articles 21, 76 and 152 of MP Election Act and violating articles 4, 10 and 14 of the Election Commission Act.
In the suit, prosecutors said the EC set January 26 as the advance election date at Ban Bang Kapi School but the group led by Tinnakorn locked the gate of the school with big locks and chains and gathered in front of the entrances and exits of the school.
The election officials could not carry out their duties as a result and were forced to cancel the advance election, prosecutors said.
The eight surrendered to face charges on March 11 last year and denied the charges.
The Criminal Court released them on Bt100,000 bail and scheduled the first hearing for December 21.
In the other suit, prosecutors indicted seven more ex-PDRC members on the same charges for the Bueng Kum incident.
Wanthongchai Chamnankij, a lawyer, said he had filed a petition seeking justice for the group but to no avail.
He said the Criminal Court had earlier acquitted ex-PDRC members on charges of blocking elections at the Din Daeng District Office on the grounds that the gathering was peaceful and no one was armed.
