Narathiwat: In a recent turn of events, the Narathiwat Provincial Court has again postponed the examination of the Tak Bai tragedy case due to the absence of seven key defendants. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 28, 2024, despite the statute of limitations set to expire shortly after, on October 25.
According to Thai News Agency, this marks the second postponement after the initial hearing scheduled for September 12 was delayed when the defendants failed to appear. The court’s inability to locate the defendants has added complexity to the proceedings. Previously, officials had conducted searches at the residences of the seven defendants but failed to locate any of them.
The case involves a total of nine defendants, although two have already been dismissed from the case. The remaining defendants include high-ranking officials such as General Chalermchai Wirunphet, commander of the 5th Infantry Regiment, and Pol. Gen. Wongkot Maneerin, director of the Forward Police Operation Center, amon
g others. The plaintiffs, 48 villagers some of whom are now disabled, attended the court session with their relatives, hoping for a resolution and accountability from the defendants.
The court’s decision not to dismiss the case despite the looming statute of limitations reflects its ongoing interest, given the involvement of high-ranking officials. The prosecutor representing defendants eight and nine stated that he has been unable to contact them, further complicating the legal proceedings.
As the community watches closely, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for justice and accountability in Thailand.