Several new lese majest cases, all associated with other cases where people are already jailed, have recently been announced.
Thai News Agency reports (with a report at Prachatai) that Lepakorn Siripmongkol, an officer of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, has filed lese majeste complaints against Chakarn Phakphoom and Preecha Daradrai.
Chakarn and Preecha are reported to be connected with Nuttapong Suwadee, a brother to Srirasmi, the former royal consort to the Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn. PPT thinks there are at least 28 lese majeste cases now in place against Srirasmi’s family and network.
Lepakorn claims that “in September 2014, he led an ONCB team to search the house, owned by Preecha, in accordance with a court search warrant for illicit drugs. Preecha who later came to the house reprimanded the officers and called [Chakarn], who claimed to be the secretary of Nattapong…. [Chakarn] allegedly claimed … his link to the monarchy to threaten the ONBC officers to stop searching and leave the house.”
The complaint states that, a day later, Preecha and Chakarn “came to the ONBC office and again reprimanded Lepakorn. They forced Lepakorn and other ONBC officers to apologize…”.
Chakarn is already jailed and facing two lese majeste charges for other claims of relationships with Srirasmi and Vajiralongkorn. Preecha is reportedly “still at large.”
Nuattapong is also in jail and facing several lese majeste charges for what Prachatai falsely reports is “falsely claiming about the monarchy.” Obviously, this can’t be a false claim because it is true – he was “connected.”
A few days ago, Prachatai also reported that “police have also arrested Natee P. and Saifon I. and accused them of offences under Article 112…”. Natee is accused of being the distributor of Banpot CDs and Saifon is accused of opening bank accounts for Banpot and “fundraising for him.” Both are in custody.
Political Prisoners in Thailand 