Kalasin Court chief judge Sathaban Boonterm on Monday welcomed his counterparts from Sakhon Nakhon, Maha Sarakham, Loei, Nong Khai and Nong Bua Lamphu. Allowing defendants to remain free pending trial enables them to keep working and saves taxpayers the expense of temporary incarceration, he said. It would also help put the lie to the old Thai adage that “prisons are for the poor”. “Anyone deemed a higher risk can be fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet or have their phones tracked, while those considered minimal risk must take an oath prior to release,” Judge Sathaban said. The Kalasin Provincial Court handled 448 cases between February and November, he said, in which 284 defendants were nominated for no-bail release.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 13, 2017 06:11 UTC