Thai Activist Gets Four-Year Jail Term for Royal Insult
- Bangkok court finds Arnon guilty of violating lese majeste law
- Activist also found in breach of Covid emergency rule in 2020
This article is for subscribers only.
A Thai court on Tuesday sentenced a pro-democracy activist, who spearheaded an unprecedented movement calling for monarchy reform, to four years in prison on charges of breaking the country’s royal insult law.
Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa was found guilty of violating article 112 of Thailand’s penal code known as lese majeste that carries a punishment of up to 15 years in prison for each instance of defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, heir apparent or regent. The court said Arnon broke the law by making a speech calling for monarchy reform on Oct. 14, 2020 at a protest rally in the Thai capital, his lawyer Krisadang Nutcharus said.