The charges against the five could ultimately land each of them with up to six months in prison and/or a maximum fine of Bt10,000. While all they did was participate in a small-scale gathering and hold up banners in support of the deputy PM, they are being charged with breaking the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more people. According to Pol Colonel Thanakrit Chaijaruwut, superintendent at Phrarachawang police station, the five men were “shocked” and never expected to be charged for holding banners containing no provocative wording. Police will next bring the five men before Dusit District Court for further prosecution of the case, he added. With that, we should be able to identify the rest of the roughly 30 participants and issue summonses accordingly,” the superintendent added.

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 06, 2018 10:42 UTC