THANET HELD FOR CLICKING ‘LIKE’ AND SHARING CHART ABOUT PARK SCANDAL
THE second suspect detained for allegedly spreading false allegations about the Rajabhakti Park scandal onFacebook was released on a Bt100,000 bail guarantee yesterday.
Thanet Anantawong's temporary release came on the condition that he does not engage in political activity and reports to officials every 12 days.
The 25-year-old, who operates a motorcycle taxi and is a secretary of the New Democracy Movement, is facing charges of violating Article 116 of the Criminal Code (sedition) and the Computer Crime Act.
Arrested at a hospital on December 13, Thanet appeared calm when police and military officers escorted him to the Bangkok Military Court yesterday to seek permission to extend his detention. However, the court chose to grant him bail pending further investigation.
Pol Lt-Colonel Niwes Singwong, a doctor at the Police General Hospital, told the press yesterday that Thanet had gone to hospital earlier this month because he had epididymo-orchitis or inflamed testes.
"However, his condition improved during detention," he said.
On Thursday, Amnesty International released a statement expressing concerns about Thanet's case.
"The removal of Thanet Anantawong from hospital and any subsequent denial or delay to his medical care may constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," the statement said.
Crimes Suppression Division deputy commander Pol Colonel Nos Sawetlek said yesterday that Thanet had clicked "Like" on a chart about the Rajabhakti Park scandal and shared it on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Sirawith Seritiwat, leader of the Democracy Studies group, showed up at the court with a banner reading "What's wrong with clicking LIKE?"
Colonel Nos said that Thanet had joined the train trip to Rajabhakti Park organised by Siriwith earlier this month, adding that the suspect also regularly attacked the government and the Army via his Facebook page called "Thanet Anantawong loves Red Shirts Forever".
He was also convicted for violating state of emergency laws earlier.
"He completed his jail term in December 2012," Nos said.
The first suspect to have been detained for allegedly spreading false allegations about the Rajabhakti Park scandal on Facebook is 27-year-old Thanakorn Siripaiboon. He remains in detention.