Public prosecutors have sent a compensation order for 13 former key figures of the now-defunct People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to pay the Airports of Thailand (AoT) for a 2008 protest that shut down the capital's two airports.
On March 25, 2011, the Civil Court ordered the 13 former PAD figures to pay 522 million baht in compensation to the AoT with an annual interest rate of 7.5% from Dec 1, 2008, until payment is made in full.
Failure to pay could lead to the seizure and auctioning of their assets to cover the damages. If the defendants have no assets or money, they could be forced into bankruptcy.
The AoT demanded compensation after the 13 defendants led protesters in laying siege to Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports from Nov 24 to Dec 3, 2008, forcing them to suspend operations which disrupted services and caused damage to the two airports.
At the time, the PAD were protesting against the Somchai Wongsawat government.
The 13 figures are Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pibhob Dhongchai, Suriyasai Katasila, Somsak Kosaisuk, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Saranyu Wongkrajang, Samran Rodpetch, Sirichai Mai-ngam, Amorn Amornratananont, Therdphum Jaidee and Maleerat Kaewka.
PAD lawyer Suwat Apaipak said yesterday that his clients have received the compensation order from the Office of the Attorney-General's legal execution department.
The department has been authorised by the AoT, the plaintiff, to execute the Civil Court's order. The execution of the assets seizure will be valid for 10 years from the issuance of the order, Mr Suwat said.
At this stage, the AoT and legal execution authorities will examine whether the defendants have enough assets and money to pay the damages.
If their assets are sufficient, they will be auctioned off to pay the debts, Mr Suwat said.
However, if legal execution officials find that the defendants do not have enough money or assets, the AoT can take the case to the Central Bankruptcy Court to launch bankruptcy proceedings, Mr Suwat said.
The PAD lawyer admitted that his clients do not have enough money or assets to pay the compensation as ordered by the court.
On Sept 21, the Supreme Court rejected a petition by the 13 former PAD figures appealing against the Civil court ruling ordering them to pay the AoT.
In 2015, the Appeal Court upheld the Civil Court's verdict ordering the PAD members to pay the compensation. The defendants were given 30 days to appeal but failed to meet the deadline.
They later lodged a petition asking for an extension. The Court of First Instance and the Appeal Court rejected their request.
The defendants' lawyers then took the petition to the Supreme Court, where judges said their clients would still have to pay compensation to the AoT.
In a separate criminal lawsuit filed by public prosecutors against 98 former PAD leaders and protesters in connection with the airport shutdowns, the Criminal Court will begin witnesses' hearings in March this year.
