Convicted Journalist Andrew Drummond to face two bail hearings this week.

Koh Samui, October 12th 2014

Andrew Drummond

A former UK journalist who now runs a blog from Bangkok will this week face two bail hearings in three separate criminal cases in Thailand.

Andrew Drummond, 63, a convicted criminal who was convicted of criminal defamation and sentenced to four months jail  (suspended for one year) in February 2014 in Pattaya Provincial Court will tomorrow face Court on the Thai island of Koh Samui and is expected to be forced to post what Plaintiff's expect will be a 'substantial' bail bond - even if Drummond can persuade the Court to release him on bail.

It is rumoured that documents have been filed by the Plaintiff in tomorrow's cases, Brian Goudie, objecting to Drummond being released on bail as Drummond now faces at least three criminal trials early next year, or alternatively requesting the Court to set tough bail conditions such as a higher than normal bail bond, confirmation of a residential address, travel restrictions and surrender of passport.

Following a preliminary hearing in case numbers 1269/2556 and 1826/2556 filed by Goudie last year, in which the Court found a prima facie case existed to go to trial, Drummond has been summonsed to surrender to bail and answer two indictments in two separate cases tomorrow that list eleven separate breaches of Thailand's Computer Crimes Act.

Drummond has been ordered to surrender to Court officers at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning - or face the prospect of an arrest warrant being issued.

A spokesman for Goudie said today:

'we expect the Court will set bail conditions commensurate with the level of offending in these pending cases, which would almost certainly attract a long custodial sentence if Drummond is convicted at trial. Mr Drummond faces eleven charges that each carry a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, so it is a very serious matter indeed'.

A further case filed by David Hanks in Samui, number 1246/2556, has been set down for Thursday 16th October - a hearing at which the Court is expected to commit Drummond to trial on yet more Computer Crimes Charges.

Even if Drummond is released tomorrow, he will face a further bail hearing at 9 o'clock on Thursday 16th October in case number 1327/2557 in Pattaya Provincial Court - also under Thailand's tough Computer Crimes Act. Plaintiffs in that case are also expected to oppose bail citing the Koh Samui cases, and the cases already accepted coupled with the fact that Drummond is alleged to now be committing offences while on a suspended sentence, and also while already on bail.

It is understood that Drummond is already on bail in another case, number 8369/2556, filed by Drew Noyes in Pattaya Provincial Court and documents are expected to be filed in that case to have Drummond's bail revoked since circumstances have changed with the acceptance of three new cases since bail was granted, and a fourth case expected to be accepted this week.