The Appeal Court has sentenced a pro-democracy activist to prison for royal defamation over a speech delivered during a protest at the King Taksin the Great Monument on 6 December 2020. She was later released on bail.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, 25-year-old Wanwalee Thammasattaya and Chukiat Saengwong, a protester well-known for wearing crop tops during protests, were charged with royal defamation after criticising the Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha administration for expanding royal powers.

The complaint was filed by Chakrapong Klinkaew, leader of the royalist group People Protecting the Institution.

In her speech, Wanwalee objected to the King’s constitutional designation as the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and spoke critically of royal involvement in ratifying coups d'état and influencing the work of the cabinet ministers.

On 27 June 2023, the Thonburi Criminal Court sentenced both activists to four years in prison, later reducing the term to two years and eight months because of their helpful testimony. Wanwalee was initially detained at the Thonburi Women Correctional Institution for 11 days before being granted bail with 300,000 baht as security pending appeal. Chukiat reportedly fled the country at the end of 2023.

On Friday (4 July), the Appeal Court upheld the initial verdict, sentencing Wanwalee to two years and eight months in prison. On the same day, she was granted bail with an additional 150,000 baht as security with the condition that she must not travel abroad without the permission of the Court.

Wanwalee initally faced four royal defamation charges, three of which, including this case, have already received verdicts from the Courts of First Instance. On 24 June 2021, she was sentenced to four years in prison for the case related to a protest at Pathumwan Skywalk, but was given a suspension.

She was also sentenced to two years and eight months in prison without suspension for posting a picture of a protest banner containing a message about the monarchy on her Facebook page on 21 November 2020.

The case awaiting a verdict involves a speech she gave at a protest in front of the Siam Commercial Bank headquarters on 25 November 2020.