Thanya Buri's provincial court handed a two-year prison sentence to the Move Forward Party's Member of Parliament, Chonthicha Jangrew, for defaming the royalty, as it falls within Section 112 of the Criminal Code. Initially, her sentence was three years, but the court shortened it to two years. However, they dismissed another charge against Chonthicha, accusing her of violating the emergency decree about public gatherings.

 

These charges came after a protest on September 11, 2021, where Chonthicha and nine other activists demanded the release of political prisoners in front of the Thanya Buri court in the Pathum Thani district. Following the sentencing, Chonthicha secured her bail, permitting her to challenge the verdict in the Appeal Court, as shared by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Throughout this process, she will keep her position as a Member of Parliament.

 

Chaithawat Tulathon, the leader of the Move Forward Party, expressed his hope for Chonthicha's bail approval if she got found guilty. Chonthicha is one among the three MPs from the leading opposition party charged with royal defamation.

 

In December 2023, Rukchanok Srinork, a Member of Parliament from Bangkok, received a six-year prison sentence for royal defamation and cybercrime due to online comments made from July 18 to August 9, 2021. On similar lines, another Member of Parliament from Bangkok, Piyarat "Toto" Jongthep, faces three charges under the same section for his participation as a leader of the WeVo guards during 2020 and 2021's anti-government protests, as reported by the Bangkok Post. Currently, Rukchanok is out of prison on bail, waiting for his appeal.

 

Photo courtesy of The Thaiger

 

-- 2024-05-27

 

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