BANGKOK, May 30 – Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is mulling additional charges against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban in connection with the death of Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi in the 2010 political violence in Bangkok.
Wannapong Kotcharag, DSI deputy director general, said investigation officials will take into consideration the Criminal Court’s verdict yesterday that Mr Polenghi was killed by a bullet fired from the direction of the government authorities.
Mr Abhisit and former deputy prime minister Suthep have been charged with ordering the crackdown on Red Shirt protesters during the April-May 2010 anti-government political demonstrations in Bangkok during which 91 people were killed.
Mr Suthep was concurrently director of the now-dissolved Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation during the political upheaval.
The two politicians earlier appeared before the DSI to acknowledge the charges but maintained they were innocent.
Pol Lt Col Wannapong said Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep were instructed to produce their written clarifications on the case within a deadline of 10 days.
After receiving their written statements, DSI investigative committee will decide if it will file lawsuits against the two former leaders for premeditated murder.
The Criminal Court, in its verdict yesterday, did not say who opened fire at Mr Polenghi in the fatal shooting on May 19, 2010.
