Chiranuch expects bail extension in Khon Kaen this afternoon

Six weeks after the postponement of her trial under charges from the Computer Crimes Act, Chiranuch Premchaiporn of Prachatai (better known as Jiew) finds herself unexpectedly back in a courtroom. 

Reporting to police in Khon Kaen earlier this morning, Ms. Premchaiporn was advised by police that in order to extend her bail, she will be required to attend court later this afternoon. The court is currently in session in Isaan province, and is being attended by Ms. Premchaiporn and her defense team.

On Wednesday evening, Ms. Premchaiporn received a phone call from police stating that her initial six-month bail period was due to expire today. Having yet to finish investigating charges against her, officials seek to extend her bail for an additional 84 day period.

Ms. Premchaiporn is required by law to report regularly to police in Khon Kaen. Given that the police station is some 450k away, it takes almost a day to reach the city from Bangkok.

On Wednesday she asked police whether, given the late notice, if she could delay travel for a day or two. She was told this it would not be possible. "No, because it has expired," she tells me. "If I didn't come to Khon Kaen today then my assets would be seized."

"The intent of the law is to protect the rights of the accused," she says.

She expects that the police in Khon Kaen will not raise objections to a bail extension. She expects that again, she will be required to report to local police every twelve days.

Her lawyers will request that given the distance and inconvenience, she be asked to report to police in Bangkok, rather than Isaan province.

Ms. Premchaiporn expects that bail will again be set at 200,000B.

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