Court acquits Watana of computer crime charges

[webfact]

Court acquits Watana of computer crime charges

 

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok South Criminal Court today acquitted former commerce minister Watana Muangsook of violating the Computer Crime Act 2007 over his criticism of the military junta.

 

The court reasoned that criticism by Mr Wattana, a leading member of the Pheu Thai party, of the National Council for Peace and Order that it would cling to power and would not return power to the people was made within the boundary of the Constitution.

 

The court said Watana’s comment was fact and not false because at the time of his comment the NCPO still did not have a clear cut road map to democracy.

 

Besides, Wattana’s comment on the deputy prime minister and defence minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan for implicating Ms Yingluck Shinawatra on proposed amnesty during his press interview was what the interim constitution has stated.

 

Therefore Wattana’s comment was constitutional, the court said in acquitting of violating the Computer Crime Act.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/court-acquits-watana-of-computer-crime-charges/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-10-31

[Tatsujin]

Interesting ... stating "facts" is now a defense that's acceptable. That's a big change.

[bangkokfrog]

"Stating the facts" may (now) be a defense under the Computer Crime Act, but I doubt it will change anything under the ridiculous interpretation of defamation law here.

[greenchair]

He's been a quiet good boy of late, seems that has paid off. 

[dwcrist]

And he was right.

[Acharn]

Demonstrating the truth of your statement has always been a defense under the defamation law. I don't know about the computer crime law, but it would seem to apply. It obviously can not be a defense under the lese majeste law. There was an interesting book, Modern Thai Monarchy and Cultutal Politics, edited by David Streckfuss, printed by Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute in 1996. It was a collection of essays about the acquittal of Sulak Sivaraksa on the charge of lese majeste. He's one of the few people to ever beat the charge.

[SOTIRIOS]

...wow....

 

...a potentially catastrophic ruling....???

[tbthailand]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

at the time of his comment the NCPO still did not have a clear cut road map to democracy.

 

 

I hadn't noticed any changes recently, ... 

[Chris Lawrence]

Still doesn't get it. "Can't say anything nice don't say anything at all." as set out in article 44.