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Thai insult man faces sentencing Thai insult man gets 10-year term
(20 minutes later)
A Swiss man who has pleaded guilty to charges of insulting the Thai king is due in court in the northern city of Chiang Mai for sentencing. A Swiss man has been jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to charges of insulting the Thai king.
Oliver Jufer, 57, was arrested last December after drunkenly spray-painting several portraits of the monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Oliver Jufer, 57, was arrested last December after drunkenly spray-painting portraits of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the northern city of Chiang Mai.
Earlier this month, Jufer pleaded guilty to five charges under Thailand's draconian lese majeste law. Earlier this month, he pleaded guilty to five charges under Thailand's draconian lese majeste law.
He could face a maximum penalty of 75 years in jail. Judge Phitsanu Tanbukalee said that he received a reduced sentence since he had admitted his guilt.
His lawyer has said that the minimum sentence he faces is seven-and-a-half years. "This is a serious crime, and he was sentenced to four years for each of five counts, for a total of 20 years," he said.
KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ Born in 1927, ascended throne in 1946World's longest-serving current head of stateOfficial powers are limited, but wields enormous influence because of popular backingWidely believed to have given backing to 2006 military coup Case shows monarchy fears
"Because he confessed, the court has reduced his sentence to 10 years."
Jufer had faced a maximum sentence of 75 years.
Jufer, who has lived in Thailand for more than 10 years, was recorded on surveillance cameras defacing the portraits on the king's birthday.Jufer, who has lived in Thailand for more than 10 years, was recorded on surveillance cameras defacing the portraits on the king's birthday.
The case has highlighted strict laws in Thailand which forbid any criticism of the monarchy.The case has highlighted strict laws in Thailand which forbid any criticism of the monarchy.
King Bhumibol, the world's longest-serving current head of state, is a very popular figure in Thailand.King Bhumibol, the world's longest-serving current head of state, is a very popular figure in Thailand.