Disgraced EC trio freed on bail

[rickfarang]

What to make of this? Is this just as they appeal their cases, or back to business as usual?

 

 

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/29Jul2006_news03.php

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Disgraced EC trio freed on bail at their

 

fourth attempt

 

POST REPORTERS

 

The three former election commissioners were released on bail yesterday after their fourth attempt to regain their freedom proved successful. The Criminal Court granted bail to Wasana Permlap, Prinya Nakchudtree and Veerachai Naewboonnien after they pledged not to tamper with Election Commission (EC) activities and to keep a leash on their supporters.

 

Wearing yellow shirts with a royal insignia celebrating His Majesty the King's 60th year on the throne, the trio were summoned to answer the court's questions as part of their bail applications.

 

They denied any involvement in a protest at the court after a guilty verdict was handed down against them on Tuesday and promised to ask their supporters not to cause trouble when they appear in court in the future. They also promised that they would not meddle in EC affairs or tamper with officials and documents after their release.

 

After a short recess, Criminal Court Chief Justice Amnuay Thanthara read out a release order to the three men.

 

In a statement, the court said bail was granted to the trio as they had resigned from their posts, given their word to stay away from EC activities and promised that neither they nor their supporters would block subsequent legal proceedings.

 

The court also barred them from giving press interviews or engaging in activities that could lead to divisiveness and create danger for people in the country.

 

Bail was set at 200,000 baht each and the ex-commissioners were given four hours to clear their desks at the EC offices.

 

The new bail applications were lodged by public prosecutor Chusak Senaboon, who was approached by the defendants' families to coordinate bail efforts after the first three attempts failed.

 

The three resigned from their posts while in jail on Wednesday after the Criminal Court found them guilty of mishandling the April 23 elections and rejected their bail requests. The Appeals Court stood by the lower court's decision, sending the trio to the Bangkok Special Prison.

 

Despite their resignations, the Supreme Court threw out their bail applications.

 

Yesterday's applications for their temporary release were lodged separately, not as a combined request.

 

[Bangkoktraveler]

Nobody that has a big wig has ever been convicted in Thailand. This sounds like the ground work for another walk.