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BANGKOK - THAI police said on Thursday the decision on whether to proceed with legal action against the leaders of ongoing anti-government protests was in the hands of the country's prosecutors.
The nine top organisers of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is trying to topple the elected government, are facing charges of inciting unrest, illegal assembly and refusing to disperse.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to seven years in jail.
The appeals court in Oct dropped more serious charges of insurrection, filed a day after thousands of PAD supporters invaded the prime minister's Government House offices on Aug 26, which they have occupied ever since.
'I confirm that yesterday police filed three charges against nine members of the PAD, and the maximum punishment is a seven-year jail term,' Bangkok police Lieutenant Colonel Phubet Senkhao told AFP.
'The attorney general's office will make a decision on Nov 18.'
If state prosecutors decide to proceed after their investigations, the case will go to the criminal court.
The protest leaders - including PAD founders Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang - have already presented themselves to police and been granted bail, leaving them free to return to the Government House protest camp.
The PAD launched its campaign in May, saying the government was running the country on behalf of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom they accuse of corruption and nepotism.
The movement erupted into violence on Oct 7 when police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters trying to block parliament. Two people were killed and nearly 500 injured in the resulting clashes.
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