The Military Court has granted bail to two lese majeste suspects who operated an anti-regime webpage, a month after their appeals to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary (OHM).
The two suspects are Harit Mahaton, 25, a Thammasat University political science graduate, and Natthika Vorathanyawit, 42, a businesswoman from Nonthaburi.
According to their lawyer, Winyat Chatmontri, the court granted them bail yesterday in the amount of 500,000 baht each. The two are requested to report back to the court on July 21. Mr Winyat stopped short of commenting whether the bail was related to the appeal to the OHM on June 3.
"We don't know and we do not want to comment on that. We are glad however that the court realises the two suspects don't have any intention to flee," said the lawyer.
The families of the two suspects have pleaded that their children would have an opportunity to mount a good defence outside the prison.
"Mr Harit and Ms Natthika are part of the same lawsuit whose suspects were all granted bail. The court believed an earlier request that they would not jump bail, so these very same persons should be trusted in this lese majeste case as well," Mr Winyat said.
Eight people were arrested at different times and locations in April and were accused of managing and uploading content deemed defamatory to the regime's leaders and instigating public defiance against law and order, according to Penal Code 116 and the Computer Crime Act.
On May 10, all eight suspects were released on bail, but the following day two of them -- Mr Harit and Ms Natthika -- were caught again allegedly for posting comments deemed defamatory to the monarchy in Facebook chats.
The two were released yesterday afternoon at Bangkok Remand Prison.
Mr Harit's father, Krit Mahaton, 63, thanked the legal team and their supporters.
"I am very grateful to the court's mercy to grant my son's rights to prepare his defence more effectively. How he will do it is his own task, as his father I just want to be with him no matter what. It's still a long process to go," said Mr Krit shortly before meeting his son.
Mr Krit emphasised that his son would not jump bail and he would earnestly defend the case.
Abhorn Vorathanyawit, 72, the mother of Ms Natthika, was also thankful to the lawyers and supporters for closely following the case.
"Special thanks go to the judges and the court officials. After this, I have to take her for a short religious retreat. I would also like that we visit a few places to make an offering and kae bon ceremony due to my previous prayers for her temporary release," Ms Abhorn said.
The case was closely monitored by international human rights organisations which have called for the charges to being dropped.
