Pheu Thai heavyweight Watana Muangsook filed a petition with a senior judge yesterday against police investigators for what he alleges was inappropriate conduct in the court compound.
In the petition, Mr Watana accused police attached to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) of intimidating his lawyer Narinpong Jinaphak when Mr Watana and his lawyer turned up to report to the Criminal Court on Monday.
The petition was lodged with Criminal Court chief justice Supat Sutthimanas.
On that day the TCSD submitted a request to detain the politician until Sept 1 on a charge of importing false information into a computer system in violation of the Computer Crime Act.
He posted content relating to a memorial plaque commemorating the 1932 Siamese Revolution. Police charged him but he was later released on bail.
According to Mr Watana, the police acted aggressively toward his lawyer and threatened to "put a gun into [his] mouth". He described the behaviour as unacceptable.
The police officers' behaviour was witnessed by several lawyers, he said, calling it a failure of the criminal justice administration system.
The stunt with the gun could in no way be considered a joke, he added.
Mr Watana said he had yet to decide if he would submit a petition to the officers' supervisors to demand a probe, and questioned if he would receive fair treatment from the TCSD.
He said he would challenge any attempt to detain him even if the police cited grounds to keep him locked up.
He said he had no flight risk and would not interfere in a police investigation. The detention request by police was not justified.
"I am protecting my rights. I'm not going overboard," he said.
Mr Narinpong said yesterday the conversation with the police started in a light tone but became more sinister.
He vowed to present full details of the exchange to the court if an inquiry is conducted.
Mr Narinpong, who is president of the Thai Lawyers Association of Thailand, said the issue at stake was not his safety but civil liberties in general.
Mr Watana met the TCSD earlier this month to acknowledge a charge of sedition.
