Worachet Pakeerut, a Thammasat University law academic and core member of the anti-coup Nitirat group, appeared before a military court yesterday morning and was subsequently freed on bail.
Thammasat University law lecturer Worachet Pakeerat is escorted to military court after being charged with violating the junta’s summons order yesterday. The court granted him bail. Apichart Jinakul
Mr Worachet was earlier handed over by a military escort to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) about 10.20am. He declined to talk to the press.
He was detained by police on Monday as he arrived back in Bangkok from Hong Kong.
Mr Worachet has been charged at the CSD headquarters with defying the order by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to report in.
The police took him to the Bangkok Military Court yesterday and requested that he be detained for another 12 days for interrogation.
However, the court granted him 20,000-baht bail.
Winyat Chatmontree, lawyer from Free Thai Legal Aid, confirmed the military court's approval of Mr Worachet's temporary release.
The Nitirat (Enlightened Jurists) core member was summoned on June 10 by the NCPO but failed to report in, citing health reasons, according to his wife. He will appear before the court again in 12 days.
A political source said Mr Worachet travelled to Hong Kong from Chiang Rai to meet red-shirt leaders soon after he was summoned by the junta.
Thira Suthiwarangkura, a law lecturer of Thammasat University and a member of the Nitirat group, yesterday said Mr Worachet returned to Thailand from Hong Kong through Don Mueang airport.
Authorities were informed in advance that Mr Worachet would return from Hong Kong, NCPO spokesman Winthai Suvaree said yesterday.
After Mr Worachet's return on Monday, he was escorted to the 11th Infantry Regiment (King's Guard) in Bang Khen district where he was detained for 48 hours before being taken to the CSD headquarters, according to a military source.
Meanwhile, 33 more people, mainly red-shirt leaders, were summoned to report to the NCPO yesterday.
The NCPO said many people are released right after they report in, but Human Rights Watch argued a female red-shirt supporter who was arrested by soldiers in Chon Buri on May 28 has since lost contact with her family. Kritsuda Khunasen has been held two weeks longer than the seven-day period allowed by martial law, the group said.