BANGKOK, Sept 20 (TNA) – Six pro-democracy activists have
been acquitted of a criminal charge for staging protest in February last year
to demand a general election and criticizing a deputy prime minister’s luxury
watch scandal.
The Criminal Court ruled on Friday to acquit the six
defendants including well-known activist Sirawit Serithiwat or Ja New, who are
members of a movement for election accused of organizing illegal assembly.
There is no evidence that the group had intent to incite
violence and they did not insult or harm state officials during the peaceful
protest, the court said. Their demand
for the government and the then-National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to
hold a fresh election in 2018 was in line with democratic principles.
During that time, the defendants also fiercely attacked
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon for owning luxury watches without
declaring as his assets.
The court said the defendants made the criticism out of good
faith as the matter was readily under public scrutiny.
After leading the gathering near the Democracy Monument on
Feb 10, 2018, the six activists were detained and later released on bail. (TNA)
