Number of emergency decree violators tops 5,000
More than 5,000 people were indicted between April 3-10 for defying the emergency decree invoked to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Prayuth Phetchakhun, deputy spokesman of the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), said a total of 4,138 cases have been filed with the court and that 5,264 people have been prosecuted for violating the decree.
Of that number, 2,537 were aged between 20-35 and 1,764 were between the ages of 36-55. Moreover, most of the offenders were indicted for violating the 10pm to 4am curfew.
On Tuesday night alone, 1,619 people were arrested for curfew-related offences.
To keep the offenders safe, Mr Prayuth said public prosecutors will ask the court to order additional measures which they must comply with. He insisted that such measures, including a “stay-at-home order” is not a punishment.
“When bringing the cases to court, the prosecutors will ask for additional measures to keep the offenders safe. For example, a court in Phayao has issued a stay-at-home order for a defendant for seven days,” Mr Prayuth said.
“If the defendant violates the stay-at-home order, he faces a maximum jail term of six months and/or a maximum fine of 10,000 baht.”
Mr Prayuth also said that the OAG’s Office of Youth and Family and the Justice Ministry’s Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection are working on measures to be used in cases involving children and youths during the outbreak to ensure they are not at risk of infection.
Meanwhile, seven Chinese nationals and two Thais were arrested yesterday at a restaurant in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district for violating the emergency decree.
The arrest was made following a tip-off that a group of people were gathering at the venue to play cards.
The suspects were charged with illegal gambling and violating a ban on mass gatherings.
In Si Sa Ket, seven people were nabbed at 1am and charged with violating the decree when they were found partying at a house in Khun Han district.
The suspects allegedly admitted that they were drinking a cocktail mixed with the illicit drug krathom.
One of them, Saengthai Sa-ard, a 36-year-old man, was also found with seven speed pills during a body search and was also charged with drug possession. Meanwhile, Chainarong Nonpho, 24, was charged with krathom possession.
