The military court has granted bail to a man from eastern Thailand who was accused of distributing anti-junta pamphlets.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), the military court of the eastern province of Chonburi on Monday granted 70,000 baht (2,151 USD) bail to Ponlawat Warodomputhikul, a 22 years-old factory worker from Muang District of the eastern Rayong province.
Ponlawat was arrested by military and police officers on last Friday and was detained at Chonburi’s Military Camp for investigation.
He was accused of distributing leaflets with the message reads “Down with dictatorship, democracy will triumph” on 21 March in several venues in Muang District of Rayong.
The leaflets also contained the images of the three finger salute, the gesture derived from the popular ‘Hunger Games’ blockbuster, which has become the anti-junta symbol in Thailand after the coup.
Accord to Pol Maj Gen Chumpon Chanthachamrassil, Ponlawat confessed that he distributed the anti-junta pamphlets.
The authorities charged him with offences under Article 116 of the Criminal Code for instigating rebellion and Article 368 for refusing to comply with official orders.
In addition, he is charged with defying the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s Announcement No. 97/2014 which prohibits criticisms against the coup-maker.