A Thai editor has been sentenced to 8 months in prison after being found guilty of insulting the royal family, through a post in an online news website, the Bangkok criminal court stated.
Chiranuch Premchaiporn was charged with violations of the Computer Crimes Act for refusing to take down posts with offensive content on the Prachatai website after authorities demanded its removal. Judge Nittaya Yaensri said the posts caused “damage to the reputation of the king, queen and heir apparent”. The judge suspended the editor’s jail sentence for another year after she admitted the accusations.
Thailand’s lese-majeste laws are controversial because they are said to be political in nature used by the monarchy to censor and intimidate activists and opposition.
Early in May, a man jailed for 20 years after being sentenced with royal insult, died in prison, sparking protests and debates on the laws.
