The trial of the webmaster of the Norporchor USA website has been scheduled to start in February 2011. The Appeals Court has rejected Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul’s bail request for fear that she might flee.
On 9 Aug, the Criminal Court set next February as the date for the trial of Thanthawuthi Thaweewarodomkul, 37, allegedly the webmaster of Norporchor (or UDD) USA. Thanthawuthi has been charged with lèse majesté under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, and offences under the 2007 Computer Crime Act. He denied the charges in court.
The public prosecutor submitted to the court a list of 12 witnesses, while the defendant submitted a list of 6. Both prosecution and defence witnesses will testify from 4 - 11 February 2011.
Thanthawuthi, allegedly the webmaster with the alias ‘Red Eagle’ of pro-red-shirt www.norporchorusa.com and www.norporchorusa2.com, was arrested by police led by the Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau Pol Lt Gen Tha-ngai Prassajaksattru and Commander of the Technological Crime Suppression Unit Pol Maj Gen Kriangsak Arunsrisophon on 1 April 2010 at his apartment in Bang Kapi, Bangkok. His computers and other belongings were seized. He has since been detained without bail at Bangkok Remand Prison.
In a related development, Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul, aka Da Torpedo, who has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for lèse majesté and whose case is now on appeal, has yet again been denied bail.
On 29 July, she requested the court to release her temporarily to receive proper medical treatment for her molar problems. She claimed that her illness was so serious that she needed an operation in a well-equipped hospital, with a couple of years for recovery. She also argued that Sondhi Limthongkul, a PAD leader accused of the same crime, has always been granted bail until now.
On 3 Aug, the Appeal Court dismissed her request, citing the fact that her case carried a severe punishment and her crime was against the revered and venerated monarchy, affecting widely the feelings of loyal people. Because of her sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment, the court did not believe that she would not flee.
The defendant can request the Corrections Department to send her for treatment at a well-equipped facility, the Appeal Court said.
Kittichai, Daranee’s elder brother, said that he was disappointed by the decision. He has had to travel from Phuket almost every week for over two years now to visit her. He always gave her money to buy milk and soft food, because she could scarcely open her jaw and eat prison food. He now faced financial problems.
Anybody wishing to assist can transfer donations to the savings account of Kittichai Charnchoengsilapakul, Krung Sri Ayutthaya Bank, Phunphon Rd branch, account number 297-1-25805-5.
