Prachatai reports that the Khon Kaen provincial court has made some negative comments when again refusing bail for Jatuphat Boonpattaraksa as he faces a false lese majeste charge.
The court had refused a request from Jatuphat’s lawyer requesting the court postpone the preliminary hearing for about a week. The lawyer said “that he did not have proper chances to consult with his client who has been detained in Khon Kaen Prison for more than three months.” He added that “the prison does not provide a room for lawyers to talk with defendants. Therefore it was nearly impossible to discuss with the defendant in a normal visitor room because it is too loud.” Further, “the prison staff did not permit him to discuss with Jatuphat in private and that there is also an interception device [recording/listening device) in the visitor room.”
In other words, the prison prevented his client from preparing to defend his case.
This request was refused.
When the lawyer later petitioned for bail, the court, as usual, denied this. But it went further:
The judge then told the defence lawyer to stop saying that Jatuphat’s rights are being violated since he is not the only defendant in Khon Kaen Prison who are consistently denied bail.
In other words, there are several or many prisoners who have their rights refused in regard to adequate legal representation, although this is not usual for non-violent crimes. Yet even those accused of rape and murder can usually manage bail.
It is lese majeste cases where the courts are most adept at denying rights.
This is known as double standards. The judiciary is a disgrace.
Political Prisoners in Thailand 