Chaiyan freed on bail
Phra Khanong District Court yesterday released Assoc Professor Chaiyan Chaiyaporn on bail for allegedly violating electoral laws by ripping up his ballots.
Sub Lieutenant Decharat Butra, an investigator at Prawet District, sought the court's permission to extend the probe to Sunday. Chaiyan, who is the head of the Department of Government Administration at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science, had refused to pay the fine because he wanted to fight the case in the court. Chaiyan cited Article 65 of the Constitution, which empowers citizens to peacefully resist any attempt to seek power unconstitutionally. After ticking the "no vote" on his ballots, Chaiyan turned around to face onlookers and reporters at polling booth 62 at Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok's Suan Luang district and slowly ripped them in half. Khon Kaen District Court on Monday fined Sutham Chumhin from Muang district and Pun Wiyo from Ubolrat district, Bt1,000 each for tearing their ballot papers.
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