Thai Lawyers for Human Rights report that on 11 January 2024 the Ratchada Criminal Court imprisoned “Nattaphon” (surname withheld) for three years, reduced to 18 months, without parole in a 112 case for commenting in May 2021 on Somsak Jeamteerasakul’s Facebook post concerning rumors of Rama 10’s illness.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Kittipong Amrit-Olarn from Police Headquarters accused Natthaphon of lese majeste and he was charged on 15 September 2021. Prosecutors ordered charges be filed with the Criminal Court on 4 September 2023.
The prosecutor alleged that on 12 May 2021, Facebook user “Somsak Jeamteerasakul” posted a message saying: “There are rumors that Vajiralongkorn is sick at Siriraj. Can anyone confirm this news?” Later that day it was alleged that the defendant posted a comment, also attaching a cartoon. The prosecutor claimed that the message was insulting and showed malice towards King Vajiralongkorn.
On 27 November 2023, Natthaphon decided to confess and prepared a statement accompanying the confession and submitted it to the court. The court therefore ordered the probation officer to investigate and examine the defendant’s behavior, to be considered at sentencing.
The defendant was, of course, found guilty of Article 112 and computer crimes offenses. Natthaphon was sentenced to three years in prison, reduced because he confessed.
The court rejected the pre-sentence report said it was appropriate to grant a suspended sentence. The court claimed to find the alleged messages to be serious. Therefore, Natthaphon was sentenced to imprisonment without parole
Natthaphon was immediately taken into custody while waiting to post bail. The court granted bail pending an appeal. A security deposit of 100,000 baht was lodged from the People’s Prasong Fund.
Political Prisoners in Thailand 
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