7 Thais appear in Cambodian court facing alleged charge of illegal entry

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) — Seven Thai nationals including at least one Thai lawmakers appeared before Phnom Penh Municipal Court at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning to face charges of allegedly trespassing on Cambodian territory in Banteay Meanchey province while inspecting the countries’ shared border.
Sok Roeun, deputy prosecutor of the court conducted the inquest.
Among the seven arrested were Panich Wikitsate, an MP from Democrat Party, Veera Somkwamkid, secretary general of People Network Against Corruption and Thailand Patriot Network core member, Samdin Lersbusya, secretary for Heaven and Earth Party, Kochpontorn Chusanaseree, assistant to Panich, Taynae Moongmachon, pressperson, Ms. Naruemol Chitwaratana, house keeper and Ms. Ratree Paiputana Paiboon, vendor, according the court record.
They had been arrested on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. by Cambodian border protection army at the border pole No. 46 in Chhokchey village, Obiychhorn commune, Ochrov district, Banteay Meanchey province. The location is opposite to Norngchan village of Thailand’s eastern Sa Kaeo Province.
“They entered the prohibited military zone and entered Cambodian territory about 500 meters from the border boundary,” the source who declined to be named said before the inquest.”They could be charged with illegal entry,” he said. Enditem