Veera Somkwamkid and Panich Vkitsreth appeared in court in prison uniform.PHNOM PENH, Jan 6 (MCOT online news) -- A Cambodian court on Thursday begin hearing the illegal entry cases against seven Thais detained by Cambodian troops as they inspected the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo province adjacent the Cambodian province of Banteay Meanchey.
The seven, including Democrat MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth and Thai Patriots Network leader Veera Somkwamkid, were taken from Prey Sor Prison in Phnom Penh to the court early this morning amid an army of local and international media.
The Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 near Nong Jan village in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.
A Cambodian court charged them with illegal entry and trespass into a Cambodian military area.
But Mr Veera was reportedly may face additional charges of spying for military information.
Mr Veera was once arrested for trespassing into Cambodian territory in August last year when he said he was inspecting the disputed border area at Ban Nong Chan, in Sa Kaew's Khok Sung district. However, Thai border patrol police in Sa Kaeo convinced the local Cambodian authorities to release Mr Veera at that time.
The seven Thais will testify in court one by one and a bail request will be submitted for each of them.
Media members are not permitted to attend the hearing; only members of families of the detained Thais and Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials were allowed to enter the court room.
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the Thai minister of foreign affairs, said the ministry would wait for the result of the hearing and, if the court permits, bail requests will be submitted.
If the court gives verdict on the same day, he said, the ministry would be ready to extend next step of assistance.
The Royal Thai Survey Department earlier confirmed the seven were 55 metres inside territory claimed by Cambodia when arrested, and the encroachment was likely because of a misunderstanding about the border line.
The seven, including Democrat MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth and Thai Patriots Network leader Veera Somkwamkid, were taken from Prey Sor Prison in Phnom Penh to the court early this morning amid an army of local and international media.
The Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 near Nong Jan village in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.
A Cambodian court charged them with illegal entry and trespass into a Cambodian military area.
But Mr Veera was reportedly may face additional charges of spying for military information.
Mr Veera was once arrested for trespassing into Cambodian territory in August last year when he said he was inspecting the disputed border area at Ban Nong Chan, in Sa Kaew's Khok Sung district. However, Thai border patrol police in Sa Kaeo convinced the local Cambodian authorities to release Mr Veera at that time.
The seven Thais will testify in court one by one and a bail request will be submitted for each of them.
Media members are not permitted to attend the hearing; only members of families of the detained Thais and Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials were allowed to enter the court room.
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the Thai minister of foreign affairs, said the ministry would wait for the result of the hearing and, if the court permits, bail requests will be submitted.
If the court gives verdict on the same day, he said, the ministry would be ready to extend next step of assistance.
The Royal Thai Survey Department earlier confirmed the seven were 55 metres inside territory claimed by Cambodia when arrested, and the encroachment was likely because of a misunderstanding about the border line.
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