A 19-year-old activist has been sentenced to prison for royal defamation over a speech criticising the monarchy during a protest on 6 December 2020, and been granted parole for two years.

<p>The Nonthaburi Juvenile and Family Court has found 19-year-old activist Thanakorn (last name withheld) guilty of royal defamation for giving a speech criticizing the monarchy during a protest on 10 September 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A 19-year-old activist was sentenced on Tuesday (22 November) to 2 years in prison after the Central Juvenile and Family Court ruled that the royal defamation law covers not only specific monarchs but also the monarchy as a whole.</p>

<p>A 17-year-old activist became the first person under the age of 18 to be indicted under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or Thailand&rsquo;s lèse-majesté law, after he was charged for a speech given at a protest on 6 December 2020.</p>

<p>Samutprakan Provincial Court has acquitted &quot;Thanakorn&quot; of lèse-majesté and computer crime charges after the authorities prosecuted him for posting a statement relating to a sarcastic comment against supporters of Thong Daeng, the favourite dog of the late King Bhumibol.&nbsp;</p>