Suvit Thongprasert (in white T-shirt), formerly Phra Buddha Isara, is escorted by corrections officials after he was defrocked on Thursday. According to media reports, Mr Srisuwan, secretary-general of the Thai Constitution Protection Association, said he will file the petition with the Office of the Ombudsman at 10am and the NHRC at 11am. The former Phra Buddha Issara was charged with robbery and running an illegal secret society after his guards beat up two plainclothes policemen, took their valuables and detained them for questioning during the People’s Democratic Reform Committee protests in Bangkok in 2014. Mr Srisuwan said according to the law, Mr Suwit is still innocent and should not be treated as a person already found guilty of criminal offences. Mr Sulak said the former Phra Buddha Isara's case was different from that of senior monks arrested on the same day and charged with embezzlement of temple funds.

Source: Bangkok Post May 27, 2018 06:39 UTC