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| Thai activists, from right, Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, Veera Somkwamkid, Kochpontorn Chusanaseree, Samdin Lersbusya, eat breakfast at Phnom Penh Appeal Court, on Tuesday. (Photo: AP) |
Phnom Penh Tuesday, 18 January 2011
"During my detention in jail, no one hurt me. And we were all detained together in one room."
The Cambodian Appeals Court on Tuesday let free on bail four more Thais arrested for alleged illegal border crossing, but they kept one in jail who is also facing charges of espionage.
The decision overruled a ruling by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court last week to hold five of seven Thais arrested in December in Banteay Meanchey province.
Veera Somkwamkid, a leader of the "yellow shirt" People's Alliance for Democracy, was not granted bail. He is facing charges of illegal entry, trespassing on military land and for gathering evidence against the state of Cambodia.
His assistant, Ratrea Paiputanapaiboon, who is also facing espionage charges, was released along with three others Tuesday, for a bail posting of around $250 each.
That brings a total of six Thais who will have to remain under the custody of the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh ahead of trials, which are expected to begin soon. The high-profile case, which includes a Thai member of parliament, has sparked protests in Thailand. The Thai delegation has said it was investigating claims of Cambodian border encroachment and was not aware it had crossed into Cambodia.
Appeals Court judge Choun Sunleng did not say why he had decided to keep Veera in jail.
Outside the courtroom Tuesday morning, Veera told reporters, in Thai language, he did not agree with the decision. "I will continue my case until the end," he said.
Defense lawyers said they welcomed the release, but declined further comment.
Samdin Lersbusya, 57, told reporters after his release he was grateful to the court. "And also thanks to the Thai media that has taken care of us," he said in Thai. "During my detention in jail, no one hurt me. And we were all detained together in one room."
Sowat Kaewsook, minister of counsel for the Thai Embassy, said the defendants would be brought to court on the trial date.
6 comments:
Thai/Khmer border dispute will be solved when Yourn/ Khmer finished the border posts planting ( deep Inside Khmer land, of course and new maps are printed.
This Thai/ Khmer border dispute just a diversion tactic by Yourn.
Why catch and release? Show the world that Cambodia is not a banana kingdom. We have a strong Rule of Law as well.
Feed animals poop to these Thai Thief!
4:10AM are you stupid to let ah Kwack fool you! regular citizen case that ah Kwack should not fool with1
This case is fucking politic! there is one Thai PM in the group and one of famous political leader in ther too!
How many Thai and Cambodia have been trespassing acrose the line without paper? why mother fucker make this case depend on court shit!
May lightning strike the liers!!!!!
This is the game ah dogy CPP playing with the Siamese to amuse people so that we can forget about the Youn Vietcong border. In my opinion ah Youn border is more dangerous then ah Siammese. To be fair we have to taking cares all of the border with the nieghbor country don't let the enemies try to cheat us.
khmens are still dumb as a cow! If you don't wake up and joint Thailand, your home and your wife will be viet belonged...
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