Police dumbfounded after encountering argumentative PAD suspects

In unprededented legal tactics, the PAD suspects declined to follow the prescribed procedures of honouring their summonses for questioning.

Instead they have claimed the charges related to the two siezures of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports as unjustified and wrongful. By refusing to acknowledge the charges filed by police, they have deviated from a normal proceedings applicable to all suspects.

And in the counter move, they filed a petition disputing the police justification to classify the seizures of two Bangkok airports as an act of international terrorism.

Since the PAD's defence team raised objection to honouring the summonses, police could not proceed to complete the execution of the legal proceedings and were obligated to check relevant provisions before making a next move.

As lead investigator in charge of the case, assistant national police chief Lt General Wuth Puawes said he needed at least a few days  to consult with his investigative team and the legal counsels before reacting to the defence tactics.

Although the PAD had already filed its arguments against the terrorism charge, investigators would have to draw a conclusion on how to react to such arguments before proceeding any further, he said.

He admitted he was confused about his mandate to deal with the act of defiant to the summones for 30 suspects.

He said, however, that he remained upbeat for the case to proceed inspite of the yesterday's set back.

In regard to the filing of the terrorism charge, he said the case was built on evidence without biases or personal grudges against the PAD.