A prominent anti-government Thai protest leader was arrested on a range of charges including insurrection, trespassing and obstructing an election after he returned to the country from the US.
Immigration officials arrested Sakoltee Phattiyakul, a leader of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee, at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport here last night.
"He faces five serious accusations including insurrection, trespassing, inciting unrest and obstruction of an election," said Tarit Pengdith, director-general of the ministry of justice's department of special investigation (DSI). Sakoltee has denied all the charges.
Thai authorities have issued arrest warrants against several leading protest leaders, including Suthep Thaugsuban. Sakoltee is among a few to have been arrested.
He was later released by the Bangkok's Criminal Court today on a bail of 600,000 baht (USD 18,600) on the condition that he does not leave the country.
Former opposition lawmaker Sakoltee said he was not aware that he has been put on the wanted list when he left Bangkok for the US on April 16.
Sakoltee led protesters to storm the building of broadcaster Thai PBS late last year.
Leaders of the anti-government movement have flouted arrest warrants to lead marches, block roads and besiege government buildings to oust beleaguered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra since November last year.
The protests began after a botched attempt by Yingluck to pass an amnesty bill that would have paved way for the return of her brother and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and is on a self imposed exile in Dubai.
The protesters want Yingluck to step down and bring in an unelected "people's council" that would oversee reforms to rid the country of alleged corruption.
