Rangsiman offers his MP salary as bail surety for protest leader Jatupat
Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome visited the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road on Friday to offer bail surety for pro-democracy activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa.
Jatupat was arrested along with 19 others while participating in a rally at Democracy Monument on Tuesday. He faces 12 charges, including sedition and organising a public assembly without authorisation.
“I will use my position as member of Parliament as bail collateral, which should be valid as MPs usually earn around Bt100,000 per month. If you calculate the value of a job at 10 times its monthly salary, then my position should be worth Bt1 million,” said Rangsiman, who was accompanied by members of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Centre.
“I decided to post bail for Jatupat because he is at the top of the list of anti-government movement leaders.
“I hope that the court will consider my proposal and grant bail to Jatupat, as so far I have heard that none of the arrested rally leaders have been granted bail, accept a 17-year-old who was released by the Juvenile and Family Court,” he added.
Rangsiman said that after meeting with the court he would visit the Department of Corrections, where Jatupat is being held for 14 days, and have him sign bail documents. The MP said he hopes to post bail surety at the court at around 2pm on Friday.