LAWYERS CLAIM RULE SET BY JUNTA LAST YEAR ALLOWS THIS
A TEAM of lawyers representing key human-trafficking suspect Lt-General Manas Kongpaen plans to to make a legal request asking that he be prosecuted and tried in a military court, citing an early junta rule that they say enables such an option.
The lawyers are also planning to submit a request for a temporary release of Manas, an Army special adviser who has been detained at Na Thawi prison in Songkhla province.
Manas was handed over to the Na Thawi court in the southern province after his surrender on Wednesday to police, who are prosecuting him as a civilian on 13 offences related to trafficking of Rohingya and other migrants.
Citing a National Council for Peace and Order rule issued on May 25 last year, three days after the military seized power from, the lawyers explained that violation of any NCPO orders should land the offenders in military courts, through military prosecution procedures rather than civilian ones.
However, the lawyers did not explain how Manas' actions fell under this rule, and no news reports have cited any acts by Manas in the run-up to his surrender that would be applicable to the conditions cited under this particular regulation.
To ensure his safety while in Na Thawi prison, Manas has been kept separate from convicted insurgents or those detained during court trials, as he served previously in several positions charged with combating the insurgency.
There are also 53 people suspected of trafficking Rohingya in custody at this facility. He reportedly appeared tense and had been unable to eat several meals since being in custody, despite telling prison commander Krissana Detchana that he was fine.
Krissana said later that Manas was put in a cell at night but was separated from other prisoners in daytime to keep him safe from the insurgent inmates.
Earlier news reports said he did not talk to other inmates at night and a guard had been assigned to watch him.
Manas reportedly asked for breakfast yesterday morning after visits by his lawyers and relatives, and became less stressed.
A daily police briefing of the human trafficking situation said there were 316 new migrants in various shelters, 67 of who were victims of trafficking and 249 accused of illegal entry. Some 53 suspects are in custody while 31 remain at large.
The total value of assets frozen and subject to seizure is now Bt117.8 million.
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