Panich (R) and another man brought to Cambodian court.Monsters and critics
Jan 13, 2011
Phnom Penh (DPA)- A Cambodian court granted bail to parliamentarian Panich Vikitsreth of Thailand's ruling Democrat Party as well as a second Thai citizen charged with illegally crossing into Cambodian territory, a government official said Thursday.
The two were among a group of seven arrested in December in the case. They told the Phnom Penh municipal court last week that they had crossed the border accidentally.
Heng Hak, director of the general department of prisons at the Ministry of Interior, said the two were released Thursday from Phnom Penh's Prey Sar jail.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said Panich and Narumol Jitrawarattana had been released on bail of 250 dollars each.
'My understanding is that they are not allowed to leave Cambodia,' Thani said, 'and when summonsed, they would have to be brought to court.'
He said bail applications for the remaining five imprisoned Thais were being considered 'on an individual basis.'
'We are hopeful that the others will get bail in due course,' Thani said. 'We are hopeful that a decision would be made by Friday.'
On Wednesday, the court finished its investigation into spying charges against two of those arrested, one of them a prominent political figure.
Veera Somkwamkit, a former leader of the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy movement, also known as the yellow shirts, was questioned along with his secretary Ratree Taiputana.
Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry, said Wednesday that the case remained under the authority of the courts and maintained that it would not affect the neighbours' bilateral relations.
'Our stance is to separate the case from bilateral relations,' he said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said this week that since the seven were in the judicial system, the case was beyond the influence of anyone else.
Hun Sen added that if the seven were convicted of illegal entry and unlawfully entering a military base, charges that carry a maximum term of 18 months, they would need to serve two-thirds of their sentences before becoming eligible for pardons.
However, if Veera and Ratree are convicted of the more serious charge of spying, they could face a further five to 10 years in jail.
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been tense for more than two years with sporadic clashes between troops over disputed territory surrounding the 11th-century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear on Cambodia's northern border.
The two were among a group of seven arrested in December in the case. They told the Phnom Penh municipal court last week that they had crossed the border accidentally.
Heng Hak, director of the general department of prisons at the Ministry of Interior, said the two were released Thursday from Phnom Penh's Prey Sar jail.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said Panich and Narumol Jitrawarattana had been released on bail of 250 dollars each.
'My understanding is that they are not allowed to leave Cambodia,' Thani said, 'and when summonsed, they would have to be brought to court.'
He said bail applications for the remaining five imprisoned Thais were being considered 'on an individual basis.'
'We are hopeful that the others will get bail in due course,' Thani said. 'We are hopeful that a decision would be made by Friday.'
On Wednesday, the court finished its investigation into spying charges against two of those arrested, one of them a prominent political figure.
Veera Somkwamkit, a former leader of the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy movement, also known as the yellow shirts, was questioned along with his secretary Ratree Taiputana.
Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry, said Wednesday that the case remained under the authority of the courts and maintained that it would not affect the neighbours' bilateral relations.
'Our stance is to separate the case from bilateral relations,' he said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said this week that since the seven were in the judicial system, the case was beyond the influence of anyone else.
Hun Sen added that if the seven were convicted of illegal entry and unlawfully entering a military base, charges that carry a maximum term of 18 months, they would need to serve two-thirds of their sentences before becoming eligible for pardons.
However, if Veera and Ratree are convicted of the more serious charge of spying, they could face a further five to 10 years in jail.
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been tense for more than two years with sporadic clashes between troops over disputed territory surrounding the 11th-century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear on Cambodia's northern border.
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Cambodian court granted bail to parliamentarian Panich Vikitsreth of Thailand's ruling Democrat Party as well as a second Thai citizen charged with illegally crossing into Cambodian territory, a government official said Thursday.
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