Injured activist regains consciousness
PHUKET: Environmental activist Siripoj Cheechang, critically injured in what appears to be have been an assassination attempt on Wednesday morning, has regained consciousness, his doctor reported this afternoon. Dr Niran Taweekul, a neurosurgeon at Wachira Phuket Hospital, said that K. Siripoj is now in stable condition. “Last night, he was responding to us, but we can’t check his ability to talk until we take him off the respirator tomorrow,” Dr Niran explained. “And we’re still worried about possible infection in his left leg,” he said. Meanwhile, Buncha Noppawong, the driver of the pick-up truck alleged to have run down K. Siripoj, was remanded to Phuket Provincial Prison this morning after the judge turned down his request for bail. Buncha has already spent two days in Thalang Police station, charged with reckless driving and attempted murder. He will remain in custody for 12 more days before he may apply for bail again. Under Thai law, the police may request a judge to remand an accused in custody for up to 84 days during the investigation period, including the initial days in police custody. The judge must decide whether the charge is serious enough to warrant keeping the accused in jail, and whether the accused represents a threat to witnesses.
