Protestors have EM tags removed

A Bangkok court agreed to the request of five anti-establishment protesters Wednesday to have their electronic monitoring (EM) tags removed. The protesters are all currently out on bail pending trials on lèse majesté and sedition charges.

The group sought the court’s permission to have the EM tags removed after the court decided that one could be removed from actor Savika Chaiyadech, aka “Pinky,” who is awaiting trial on fraud charges in connection with a Ponzi scheme.

Pinky and her mother Sarinya were among 19 people indicted for allegedly defrauding the public in a foreign exchange futures investment scam, known as Forex-3D. The two posted land titles deeds as surety for their bail, but the court rejected their request for fear that they may try to flee.

The investment scam, which was a Ponzi scheme, offered investors returns of up to 80% on their investments. About 14,000 people were duped into investing in the scheme, to the value of an estimated 1.9 billion baht, according to the Department of Special Investigation.

Thailand’s Criminal Court eventually granted bail to Pinky on the condition that she does not leave the country, informs the court within seven days if she changes her address, reports to the court every month and wears an EM tag.

According to a report on Amarin TV, Pinky went to the Criminal Court on Ratchada Pisek Road on Monday and got permission to remove her EM tag. She told the Court that she found it difficult to work while wearing an EM tag. The Court agreed to her request.

Political activist, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, shared Pinky’s news on Facebook. He said…

“When will we be able to remove the EM tag? Our charges did not cause any loss to anyone. We did not defraud or kill anybody.”

Several political activists, including Penguin, were arrested for violating Thailand’s Section 112 and were granted bail but required to wear EM bracelets.

The five protesters who want their EM tags removed are Chonthicha Jaengrew, Panupong Jadnok, Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, Weha Saenchonchanasuek and Nawapon Ton-ngam.