The case has been postponed to next month as a result of his absence.

The court was ready at 10am to give the Appeals Court verdict against Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pipop Thongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk and Somkiart, all former leaders of the PAD, and former PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila.

The six were charged with organising the raid and seizing the Government House compound during protests against then-prime minister Samak Sundaravej in 2008.

Sondhi was brought to the court from Klong Prem Central Prison, where he is serving a 20-year prison term for forging corporate documents.

The reading of the verdict had already been postponed from May 16 after Chamlong indicated he could not attend due to illness.

On Monday, Somkiart’s lawyer told the court his client was suffering from nausea and presented a doctor’s certificate. The judge insisted on interviewing the doctor directly about Somkiart’s ailment, but the lawyer said the doctor was unavailable.

The court decided that, lacking convincing evidence that Somkiart was unwell, an arrest warrant for him would be issued and his Bt200,000 bail guarantee confiscated.

The case filed by prosecutors in 2012 focused on the defendants’ leading role in the PAD assembly in May 2008 that pressed for the resignation Samak. Protesters moved to blockade Government House, the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, the Finance Ministry, and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

Samak was later ousted by the Constitutional Court and succeeded by MP Somchai Wongsawat, who was supposed to spell out his government policies in front of Parliament in October 2008. The PAD also opposed Somchai becoming PM and occupied Government House from August to December, allegedly causing Bt6.7 million in property damage, including to plants, water sprinklers, electronic systems and surveillance cameras.

In 2015, the Criminal Court sentenced the six defendants to two years jail for occupying government spaces. All of the defendants appealed.