Ampol Tangnopakul was arrested by Crime Suppression Division police on 3 August 2010 for allegedly sending SMS messages considered offensive and threatening to the monarchy. They were allegedly sent to the private secretary of then Prime Minister Abhisith Vejjajiva. Ampol was charged with lese majeste. He was detained at Bangkok Remand Prison for about two months before being granted bail.
Ampol was, at the time, a 60-year-old man who was arrested in Samut Prakan after police and officials of the Information and Communication Technology Ministry investigated and found that he had sent the offensive messages. Ampol denied the charges. He is alleged to have sent messages four times to Abhisit Vejjajiva’s personal secretary Somkiat Krongwattanasuk between 9-11 May, to other cabinet members, and also to yellow-shirt activist Tul Srisomwong. The case that proceeded in court was about the messages claimed to have been sent to Somkiat.
The authorities stated that Ampol was blacklisted as a hard-core member of the red shirts of Samut Prakan province by the Internal Security Operations Command. Ampol denied this.
Kept in prison after his court appearance on 18 January 2011, Ampol was detained without bail. Despite his poverty, after a day of consideration, the court dismissed a bail request, saying that the alleged crimes against the monarchy were severe and he might abscond.
Ampol had appeared in the Criminal Court to be “charged with violating Sections 14 (2) and (3) of the 2007 Computer Crimes Act, Section 112 of the Criminal Code (dealing with lèse majesté) and Decree 41 of the 1976 coup which changed the penalty for lèse majesté from a maximum of 7 years in prison to 3-15 years.”
By late January, Ampol had been denied bail three times and remained in jail.
On 21 March 2011, the Criminal Court again denied bail for Ampol. His case is scheduled for late September. He was detained without bail from 18 January 2011, and reportedly suffering from mouth cancer.
In late August 2011, his case was submitted to the U.N.’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention by the Freedom of Expression Documentation Center, iLaw in Bangkok, with a detailed report on his case.
Ampol’s trial began on 23 September 2011. He was convicted in late November 2011 and sentenced to 20 years in jail for the 4 text messages the court says that he sent. To simplify, the court was unable to prove that Ampol sent the messages but convicted him on the basis that he could not prove that he didn’t send them. The court’s judgement (in Thai) is available as a PDF.
His lawyer’s appealed for bail during the time that the appeal case is being prepared and getting ready to be heard, and despite guarantees from 7 academics and 2 million in bail offered, the court rejected the application on 22 February 2012, unbelievably stating that it considered the poor, sick and old man a “flight risk.” Ampol’s lawyers appealed for bail eight times, and each appeal was refused.
As his appeal dragged on and on, by early April 2012, Ampol decided to withdraw it, plead guilty and seek a royal pardon, “citing his old age and health problems as the reason.”
He died on 8 May 2012, still waiting to see if there is any mercy for an old and sick man. The royal pardon never came. At the time of his sentence, PPT and others stated that Ampol had been effectively been given a death sentence. Sadly, that has proven correct.
An inquest is being held into Ampol’s death in custody.
Media reports on Ampol’s case:
Khao Sod, 10 May 2013: “Uncle SMS, Lese Majeste Convict Dead In Prison 1 Year Ago, Remembered“
Prachatai, 29 April 2013: “Thanthawut testifies in court inquest into Amphon’s death“
Bangkok Post, 18 December 2012: “Inquest starts into Ampon prison death“
Bangkok Post, 18 September 2012: “Rich get bail, while poor go to jail“
Bangkok Post, 27 August 2012: “Thousands mourn ‘Uncle SMS’ at cremation“
Prachatai, 25 August 2012: “German expert’s statement on SMS sender identification in Amphon’s case“
Prachatai, 24 August 2012: “Former Judge’s Views on the Case of Ah Kong“
Bangkok Post, 7 August 2012: “Religious rite held for Uncle SMS“
Bangkok Post, 11 May 2012: “Ampon team of lawyers say their best not good enough“
PPT posted a page of international media links on Ampol’s death.
Bangkok Post, 9 May 2012: “Sadness, outrage after Uncle SMS dies“
The Nation, 9 May 2012: “Death of ‘Uncle SMS’ puts govt in focus“
Prachatai, 8 May 2012: “Lawyer: ‘If Ampon was granted bail, he would not have died’.”
Prachatai, 3 April 2012: “Amphon withdraws appeal and will seek royal pardon“
Prachatai, 24 February 2012: “Appeals Court denies bail for Amphon“
Bangkok Post, 22 January 2012: “Lawyer plans appeal in continued fight to release ‘Uncle SMS’ from prison“
Bangkok Post, 30 November 2011: “Ampon case spurs action“
A list of media reports on Ampol’s sentencing is here.
Bangkok Post, 27 November 2011: “The saga of Uncle SMS“
Asian Human Rights Commission, 24 November 2011: “THAILAND: Twenty years in prison for four SMS messages“
Prachatai, 24 September 2011: “Trial of alleged SMS sender begins“
Prachatai, 23 March 2011: “Bail again denied for man accused of sending offensive SMS”
Prachatai, 25 January 2011: “No bail for man accused of sending SMS”
Prachatai, 20 January 2011: “SMS sender arraigned for alleged lèse majesté and denied bail”
Bangkok Post, 3 August 2010: “Man arrested for lese majesty SMSs”
[...] anniversary, another person is in court on lese majeste charges. Prachatai reports on the case of Ampol Tangnopakul, a 61 year-old man arrested by Crime Suppression Division police on 3 August 2010 for sending SMS [...]
[...] first update involves the lese majeste by SMS case against Ampol Tangnopakul who has once again been denied bail “by the Appeals Court after he was indicted and sent to [...]
[...] that the Freedom of Expression Documentation Center of iLaw has submitted the lese majeste case of Ampol Tangnopakul to the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. This follows the submission of the case [...]
[...] media attention is directed to the trial of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the less publicized trial of Ampol Tangnopakul has begun. Click on the links for details on both [...]
[...] Amphon Tangnoppakul [...]
[...] appeal was made on Facebook and through other social media and referred to the conviction of Ampol Tangnopakul and his 20 year sentence. The appeal points out that there was “widespread criticism about [...]
[...] Thailand has expressed “deep concern” at Thailand’s jailing of a 61-year-old man [Ampol Tangnopakul] for sending text messages deemed offensive to the royal family. They have “urged the [...]
[...] Human Rights Watch has issued a statement on lese majeste, taking the opportunity afforded by the recent sentencing of Ampol Tangnopakul. [...]
[...] weil er 4 SMS versandt haben soll, von denen es heißt, dass sie die Königin beleidigten (siehe hier). Der Name des für diese Unrechtsurteile verantwortlichen Richters lautet: Chanathip Muanphawong. [...]
[...] Daranee “Da Torpedo” Chanrncherngsilapakul, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, and Ampon Tangnoppakul, among [...]
[...] Daneattananusorn, Daranee “Da Torpedo” Chanrncherngsilapakul, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, and Ampon Tangnoppakul, among [...]
[...] Bangkok Post reports that Ampol Tangnopakul is to appeal his lese majeste conviction for sending messages supposedly denigrating the queen to [...]
[...] Bangkok Post reports that Ampol Tangnopakul is to appeal his lese majeste conviction for sending messages supposedly denigrating the queen to [...]
[...] Daneattananusorn, Daranee “Da Torpedo” Chanrncherngsilapakul, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, and Ampon Tangnoppakul, among [...]
[...] Bangkok Post reports that Ampol Tangnopakul is to appeal his lese majeste conviction for sending messages supposedly denigrating the queen to [...]
[...] this report, the Appeals Court has rejected a bail request by Ampol Tangnopakul. His lawyer reports that that on 22 February, the [...]
[...] this report, the Appeals Court has rejected a bail request by Ampol Tangnopakul. His lawyer reports that that on 22 February, the [...]
[...] plot against the government and come up with weird conspiracy theories, lese majeste victims Ampol Tangnopakul, Darunee Charnchoensilpakul, Joe Gordon, Tanthawut Taweewarodomkul, Wanchai Saetan, Somyos [...]
[...] plot against the government and come up with weird conspiracy theories, lese majeste victims Ampol Tangnopakul, Darunee Charnchoensilpakul, Joe Gordon, Tanthawut Taweewarodomkul, Wanchai Saetan, Somyos [...]
[...] this report, the Appeals Court has rejected a bail request by Ampol Tangnopakul. His lawyer reports that that on 22 February, the [...]
[...] this report, the Appeals Court has rejected a bail request by Ampol Tangnopakul. His lawyer reports that that on 22 February, the [...]
[...] December 2011, however, following the ludicrous sentencing of Ampol Tangnopakul, HRW seemed to backslide, moving from its call to “revoke” the lese majeste law to [...]
[...] December 2011, however, following the ludicrous sentencing of Ampol Tangnopakul, HRW seemed to backslide, moving from its call to “revoke” the lese majeste law to “amend” [...]
[...] is with great sadness that PPT joins other media outlets in noting the death of Ampol Tangnopakul in jail while serving his ludicrously long sentence for lese majeste, in a case that was riddles [...]
[...] is with great sadness that PPT joins other media outlets in noting the death of Ampol Tangnopakul in jail while serving his ludicrously long sentence for lese majeste, in a case that was riddles [...]
[...] There are two other items of lese majeste news that have perhaps been missed on a day when the news has been dominated by the death of lese majeste victim Ampol Tangnopakul. [...]
[...] There are two other items of lese majeste news that have perhaps been missed on a day when the news has been dominated by the death of lese majeste victim Ampol Tangnopakul. [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] statement by lese majeste exile Ji Ungpakorn following the death in custody of lese majeste convict Ampol Tangnopakul. Ji has a new commentary at Green Left Weekly. Even though the account is pretty close to the [...]
[...] in such cases, including those of Mr. Lerpong Wichaikhammart (Joe Gordon) and the late Mr. Amphon Tangnoppagul (Akong), were carried out in accordance with the rule of law. All of them have been accorded due [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] In other posts earlier in the month, we reproduced the Asian Legal Resource Center’s statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council on continuing attacks on freedom of expression in Thailand and the death in custody of lese majeste convict Ampol Tangnopakul. [...]
[...] in such cases, including those of Mr. Lerpong Wichaikhammart (Joe Gordon) and the late Mr. Amphon Tangnoppagul(Akong), were carried out in accordance with the rule of law. All of them have been accorded due [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] banned biography about the Thai king and posting it online. He was freed in July by a royal pardon. Amphon Tangnoppakul was not so fortunate. He died in prison in May at age 62, less than a year into a 20-year sentence [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] article begins by noting that Joe Gordon, Ampol Tangnopakul and Darunee Charnchoensilpakul were each sentenced in late 2011. For those who forget these [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] Provocateur has begun posting a translation of the funeral book for Ampol Tangnopakul. We won’t repeat the information there, but simply draw attention to the availability of the [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] points out that Somyos Pruksakasemsuk, Darunee Charnchoensilpakul, the late Ampol Tangnopakul, and Wanchai Saetan have suffered similar refusals of bail. She could have added Joe Gordon, [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] Provocateur has posted the second part of a translation of the funeral book for Ampol Tangnopakul. We won’t repeat the information there, but draw attention to the availability of this [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] His aged mother Taem Phuchasaeng, 68, said: “It is a pity that certain other lese majeste defendants were not in a position to defend themselves. I was quite sorry, in particular, about the death of Ah Kong [Ampol Tangnopakul].” [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] on lese majeste/computer crimes cases: Ampol Tangnopakul (died while incarcerated), Boonyuen Prasertying, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Darunee [...]
[...] Ampol Tangnopakul [...]
[...] of these political prisoners – Ampol Tangnopakul and Wanchai Raksanguansilp – died in 2012 while incarcerated. Darunee Charnchoensilpakul has [...]
[…] The 10th of May was the anniversary of the death in custody of lese majeste convict Ampol Tangnopakul. PPT has the whole sorry tale of royalist vindictiveness against an old man they believed had insulted the queen here. […]
[…] The 10th of May was the anniversary of the death in custody of lese majeste convict Ampol Tangnopakul. PPT has the whole sorry tale of royalist vindictiveness against an old man they believed had insulted the queen here. […]