Bangkok Post
The Appeals Court of Cambodia is expected to decide on Tuesday whether to grant bail to five Thais denied bail by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court last week.
Pon Savath, chief clerk of the Appeal Court, said the five would be taken from Prey Sar prison to the court tomorrow when the appeal would be examined.
The court is expected to decide immediately after the examination whether to allow their release on bail.
If they were again denied bail, the five could appeal to the Supreme Court in 15 days.
The five are Veera Somkwamkid, a coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, Mr Veera's secretary, Samdin Lertbutr and Tainae Mungmajon of the Santi Asoke sect, and Kitchaponthorn Chusanasevi.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court last Thursday granted bail to the other two Thais - Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth and Narumol Chitvarattana - for health reasons.
The seven Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 on charges of illegal entry and intruding on a military zone. Mr Veera and Ms Ratree were later additionally charged with spying.
Thani Thongphakdi, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department, said Mr Veera had asked the Thai embassy to provide him with a new interpreter.
He said the embassy was willing to comply with Mr Veera's request, but the final decision rests with the Lawyers Association of Cambodia.
A case of this type was normally concluded within six months, Mr Thani said.
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, insisted that the Thai government had tried to help all seven Thais in trouble.
Mr Kasit, who is attending the Asean Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia, would discuss the matter with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong, he said.
Nathaporn Toprayoon, a legal adviser of the Thai Patriots Network, said Prey Sar prison had allowed friends and relatives of the five Thais still in detention to visit them on Wednesday.
A proposal would be submitted to appoint a new lawyer to represent Mr Veera and Ms Ratree. New evidence and a translation of Mr Veera's statement in three languages - Cambodian, Thai, and English - would also be submitted to the court, he said.
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