Sarawut (surname withheld) is a 32 year old optometrist from Chiang Rai who has been charged with lese majeste before a military court. He is accused of defaming Prince Vajiralongkorn, now king. He was also charged under the 2007 Computer Crimes Act.
In a report at Prachatai, when Sarawut appeared before a military court on 7 February 2017, he is said to have vowed to prove his innocence. It seems he has been granted bail.
His next appearance before the court on 11 April 2017.
Prachatai updates the lese majeste case against Sarawut (surname withheld), an optometrist in Chiang Rai, charged with lese majeste before a military court, and accused of defaming then Prince Vajiralongkorn.
On 29 December 2016, Sarawut was indicted in a military court in Chiang Rai Province for lese majeste and computer crimes.
This case began on 21 July 2016.
Sarawut is reported to have been detained since 11 October 2016 and was remanded in custody following his most recent court appearance. He is due in court again on 7 February 2017 for a deposition hearing.
Prachatai reports on a lese majeste case in Chiang Rai.
For a second time, on 26 October 2016, a military court “has denied bail for a lèse-majesté suspect accused of posting defamatory images of the Crown Prince online.” Sarawut (family name withheld), 32, was arrested on 11 October 2016.
Earlier, Sarawut’s relatives and lawyer had offered a land title as bail surety along with cash, amounting to 500,000 baht in total. As usual, the military court denied bail, blathering about “the severity of the charges, flight risk and fear that the suspect might commit further crimes.”
Sarawut is an optometrist in Chiang Rai. He is alleged to have post two images of Prince Vajiralongkorn “deemed defamatory…”.
He also faces Computer Crimes charges.
The original complaints appear to have been made by “soldiers from the 37th Military Circle of Chiang Rai…”.
Political Prisoners in Thailand 