Report Ex-Bangkok MP Jailed as Supreme Court Upholds Defamation Conviction

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Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Former Bangkok MP, Sira Jenjaka, was sent to prison after Thailand’s Supreme Court upheld his defamation conviction stemming from a heated confrontation at Mongkutwattana Hospital.

 

Once a notable figure in the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), Sira received a sentence of six months and 20 days on June 18, without suspension. This conviction concludes a prolonged dispute with the hospital’s director, Major General Dr Rienthong Nanna.

 

The conflict began on May 7, 2021, when Sira, along with several men, entered the private hospital in Bangkok’s Laksi district uninvited, publicly insulting Dr Rienthong. This incident led to charges of trespassing and defamation.

 

Sira denied any wrongdoing, despite reportedly attacking Dr Rienthong further through media channels. Initially, he was sentenced to a year and four months by the lower court, which was later reduced to 10 months by the Appeal Court.

 

Seeking a reprieve, Sira appealed to the Supreme Court for a suspended sentence. However, the court only slightly reduced the sentence, confirming his immediate imprisonment.

 

“This case has gone through every level of the justice system,” stated Phaisan Chalikaeo, Dr Rienthong’s lawyer, emphasising that no one, including former politicians, is above the law.

 

This ruling concludes a bitter dispute that affected both parties. In a related case, Dr Rienthong was convicted of defaming Sira in August 2023. He received a five-year sentence, which was suspended for two years due to his contributions to public service.

 

Both legal battles originated from the same 2021 incident, highlighting a powerful clash between two influential personalities.

 

As Sira begins his prison term, his case serves as a reminder that political status offers no immunity from legal accountability.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-19

 

 

[Emdog]

In some sensible western countries, defamation is a civil matter with no possibility of a jail sentence