THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Court delays reading of verdict in alleged abuse-of-power case against Tharit

Court delays reading of verdict in alleged abuse-of-power case against Tharit

The reading of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the case of alleged abuse of power by former Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit was postponed after he informed the court he is being treated for Covid-19.

The Supreme Court scheduled Thursday for the Criminal Court to read the final verdict against Tharit and three other DSI officers – Pol Lt-Colonel Wannapong Kotcharak, Pol Major Yutthana Phraedum and Pol Captain Piya Raksakul.

But Tharit sent an appeal to the court, claiming he needs to receive treatment for Covid-19 for three months.

The four defendants were charged under Section 157 of the Criminal Code for alleged abuse of authority. The charges were filed with the Criminal Court by former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and ex-deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban.

In March 2020, the Appeals Court overturned the lower court’s acquittal of the four defendants and instead sentenced them to two years in prison for abuse of authority after they filed murder charges against Abhisit and Suthep following a crackdown on red-shirt protests in 2011/12. The court found them guilty of abuse of authority in favour of the Yingluck Shinawatra government. Court delays reading of verdict in alleged abuse-of-power case against Tharit

The defendants appealed against the ruling and the Supreme Court sent its final decision to the Criminal Court for a reading on Thursday.

Abhisit’s lawyer Paibul Phonoi said Tharit actually sent three appeals to the Criminal Court on Thursday.

In the first, Tharit asked the court to send an additional defence document to the Supreme Court for consideration. Paibul said the plaintiffs objected to the first appeal on ground that all defence documents should have been submitted to the court since the trial was carried out by the primary court instead of being sent after the Supreme Court made its final ruling.

In the second appeal, Tharit offered to deposit 300,000 baht as compensation to the two plaintiffs. Paibul said the plaintiffs also objected to the second appeal on grounds that they did not want money from Tharit.

Court delays reading of verdict in alleged abuse-of-power case against Tharit The lawyer said the plaintiffs did not object to the postponement of the verdict reading because Tharit attached a medical certificate that proved he had been infected.

But the plaintiffs believe the three-month delay would be too long so they asked the court to read the verdict in absentia of Tharit.

The Criminal Court said it has yet to consult the Supreme Court on whether the verdict can be read in absentia before scheduling a new date for the reading.

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