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Thai man arrested for Facebook ‘like’ of doctored royal photo Thai man arrested for Facebook ‘like’ of doctored royal photo
(34 minutes later)
A Thai man has been arrested for “liking” a doctored photo of the king and sharing an infographic on Facebook about a growing corruption scandal, as prosecutions burgeon under draconian royal defamation laws.A Thai man has been arrested for “liking” a doctored photo of the king and sharing an infographic on Facebook about a growing corruption scandal, as prosecutions burgeon under draconian royal defamation laws.
The arrest, announced on Thursday, came as the US ambassador to Thailand faces a police investigation for royal defamation over a speech he made last month, in which he expressed concern over lengthy sentences handed to civilians for lese-majeste.The arrest, announced on Thursday, came as the US ambassador to Thailand faces a police investigation for royal defamation over a speech he made last month, in which he expressed concern over lengthy sentences handed to civilians for lese-majeste.
In the latest case Thanakorn Siripaiboon, 27, a worker in a car-parts factory, was arrested in Samut Prakan, near Bangkok, and charged with sedition, lese-majeste and computer crimes, said Col Burin Thongprapai, a legal officer for the junta.In the latest case Thanakorn Siripaiboon, 27, a worker in a car-parts factory, was arrested in Samut Prakan, near Bangkok, and charged with sedition, lese-majeste and computer crimes, said Col Burin Thongprapai, a legal officer for the junta.
“On December 2, he clicked ‘like’ on a doctored photo of the King and shared it with 608 friends,” Burin said, adding that he had confessed to the charges and faced up to 32 years in jail. “On 2 December, he clicked ‘like’ on a doctored photo of the King and shared it with 608 friends,” Burin said, adding that he had confessed to the charges and faced up to 32 years in jail.
The image reportedly portrayed the monarch in a negative light. Under Thai law anyone convicted of insulting the revered but ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88, or the queen, heir or regent can face up to 15 years in jail on each count. Prosecutions have soared since the army, which claims to be the ­champion of the monarchy, grabbed power last year, calling it a necessary move to curb endemic corruption among the kingdom’s civilian politicians and protect the royal family.The image reportedly portrayed the monarch in a negative light. Under Thai law anyone convicted of insulting the revered but ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88, or the queen, heir or regent can face up to 15 years in jail on each count. Prosecutions have soared since the army, which claims to be the ­champion of the monarchy, grabbed power last year, calling it a necessary move to curb endemic corruption among the kingdom’s civilian politicians and protect the royal family.
Record-breaking sentences have been handed down in recent months to transgressors, most of whom are regime critics but also include senior officials swept up in nebulous corruption probes. Record-breaking sentences have been handed down in recent months to transgressors, most of whom are regime critics but also include senior officials swept up in nebulous corruption investigations.
Thanakorn, who belonged to an opposition Red Shirt Facebook group, also shared an infographic about Rajabhakti Park, a multimillion-pound park built by the ­military under construction ­contracts allegedly ­riddled with kickbacks and inflated costs. “He admitted that he posted the infographic of Rajabhakti Park to incite members of the group,” to oppose the military, Burin said. Thanakorn, who belonged to an opposition Red Shirt Facebook group, also shared an infographic about Rajabhakti Park, a multimillion-pound park built by the ­military under construction ­contracts allegedly ­riddled with kickbacks and inflated costs. “He admitted that he posted the infographic of Rajabhakti Park to incite members of the group, to oppose the military,” Burin said.