Countersuit against officers
The lawyer of Thanakrit Thongngernpherm, one of suspects in a lese majeste case, today filed a countersuit, insisting that her client could not commit the crime while serving time in jail.
The charge was filed against Pol Gen Srivara Rangsipramanakul, the deputy national police chief, and other officers involved with the arrest warrants issued for Thanakrit and eight others. They were charged of exaggerating and causing damage to individuals.
Thanakrit, 49, was one of the red-shirt suspects in the "Khon Kaen Model" case. He was released on bail but has remained in prison since May 2014 on a forgery case.
His lawyer, Benjarat Meethien, said that he could not have committed the crime as he, as well as other convicts, had no access to phone.
She was convinced that no prison in the country would allow convicts to commit new crimes. She also recalled tight security for convicts in political cases, which includes close monitoring on lawyers' visit and ban of non-family members' visit.
She added that Thanakrit was puzzled with the warrant. He admitted that he knew 3-4 people facing the arrest warrants during a political movement in Khon Kaen.
The individuals prosecuted in the Khon Kaen Model case and facing the arrest warrants are also her clients, Benjarat said.
She insisted that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) must take responsibility for the warrants.
