Thai criminal court asked to release "red-shirt" candidate to meet election officials

A lawyer of the "red-shirt" movement on Tuesday submitted a request to Thailand's Criminal Court, asking it to allow Pheu Thai Party candidate Kokaew Pikultong to leave the Bangkok Remand Prison to meet with election officials on Wednesday, the Nation online reported.

Karom Polthaklang submitted the request at 10 a.m., local time.

He informed the court that Kokaew, who applied to run in the by- election of Bangkok's Constituency 6, needs to meet with election officials Wednesday in a bid to submit his election expense statement.

Kokaew, an anti-government "red-shirt" leader is currently in jail in the Bangkok Remand Prison as a terrorism suspect in connection with the recent "red-shirt" protests in central Bangkok.

On June 15, the weekly cabinet meeting approved the July 25 by- election for the Bangkok Constituency 6 as per a proposal of the country's Election Commission (EC).

The by-election is planned to fill the vacant House seat left by ruling Democrat MP Tiva Ngernyuang, who passed away recently.

The Bangkok Constituency 6 covers three districts: Nong Chok, Khlong Samwa, and Bueng Kum District.

Source: Xinhua