Anthony Kwan, a reporter with Hong Kong startup Initium Media, was arrested yesterday at Suvarnabhumi Airport when an X-ray scan discovered body armor and a helmet in his luggage, according to Police Col. Santi Wannasak of the Samut Prakan Police Station.
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Thai law prohibits possession of military equipment without a licence.
He is being charged with possessing an illegal weapon, which carries a prison sentence of up to five years.
The latest on the bombings in the Thai capital (all times local): _ 12:30 p.m. Thailand’s police chief says the investigation into last week’s bomb blast has been hampered by broken security cameras in central Bangkok along the main suspect’s getaway route.
He is banned from leaving the country.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) was “dismayed” by the detention.
There was confusion early Monday about whether Kwan would face a civilian or military court and what he has been charged with.
“It is not clear that he will be tried in a military court. The court set this condition, not the police”.
Kwan’s lawyer, Sirikarn Charoensiri, told the South China Morning Post that the proceedings could drag on for six weeks. He said that the situation in the country was “under control” and that the deployment of uniformed and plainclothes police has been increased in nearly every area to provide “utmost safety to people”.
He was later granted bail, she added.
Police will hand the case to the public prosecutor, who will decide if there is enough evidence to prosecute.
Kwan was returning to Hong Kong after spending a week covering the aftermath of the August 17 Erawan Shrine bombing. The organization also implored the government to “decriminalise the legitimate use of body armour and other relevant and purely protective items”.
“Body armour and helmets used by journalists are not offensive weapons and should not be treated as such”, it said, adding that large media organisations make it mandatory that journalists wear armour in potentially risky environments.
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The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand said use of body armour and helmets is routine by journalists worldwide and the death of two journalists in Bangkok from gunfire during the political unrest in 2010 underlines the need for protective garments.
