Man assaulted by vigilantes before Section 112 complaint

A 42-year-old man with a history of psychiatric treatment was allegedly assaulted by a group of people in Bangkok's Don Mueang district before being handed to police over a complaint under Thailand's Section 112 royal defamation law. Thailandlanguage courses

The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said the man, referred to as "Thanit", was left bruised, with a swollen lip and head pain after the alleged attack on the evening of 22 July 2026.

The group involved called itself Kong Ruean Rok and had claimed on Facebook livestreams to be pursuing a man they accused of posting videos and messages referring to the monarchy. It said it would find him within 24 hours.

Group allegedly took man from his home

According to TLHR, Kong Ruean Rok had posted that it was looking for Thanit from the evening of 20 July. On 22 July, several dozen people reportedly went to his accommodation in Don Mueang and took him outside, where he was attacked.

Video footage reviewed by the lawyers' group allegedly showed people surrounding Thanit, pressing him down with a foot, repeatedly slapping his face, tripping him so that he fell on his back, and stepping on his head and body.

The footage also reportedly showed people driving a knee into his stomach and striking his head with slaps and an elbow, causing the lenses of his glasses to come out of their frame.

Thanit was then placed in a pick-up truck and taken to Tao Poon Police Station. The group remained around the station after bringing him there, TLHR said.

Police confirmed that a Section 112 complaint had been lodged at the station on 21 July 2026. At that point, officers had not issued a summons or sought an arrest warrant.

Phone examination and assault complaint

Police examined Thanit's phones while lawyers were following the case, despite there being no warrant, according to TLHR. Officers later recorded the seizure of two mobile phones.

The record, prepared by Pol Lt Col Itthikorn Treepraphakorn, an investigator at Tao Poon Police Station, stated that Thanit consented to the seizure and to officers accessing the phones' data.

It said the phones were evidence in a complaint lodged by Naruephon Noomongkot at 6.48pm on 21 July. The complainant alleged that a Facebook user had posted a Reel video mentioning King Rama X in language he regarded as insulting to the monarch.

Pictures courtesy of Matichon

Police later told lawyers they would take Thanit to Don Mueang Police Station. No charge had been laid against him at that stage, and officers said he could file a complaint there over the assault.

At Don Mueang Police Station, Thanit asked to pursue a complaint against those who allegedly attacked him. Officers accepted the report and lawyers requested a hospital referral for his injuries.

On the morning of 23 July 2026, Thanit underwent a medical examination. He reportedly complained of severe chest tightness and was admitted for emergency treatment, while Don Mueang investigators sought further questioning about the assault.

Join the discussion?

24 July 2026