The Court of Appeal has dismissed charges of royal defamation for putting a sticker on a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn in front of the Supreme Court during a protest on 19 September 2020.

Narin wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and a yellow hat at the court when he was sentenced in March 2022. (Photo by Ginger Cat)

In March 2022, the Criminal Court sentenced Narin (last name withheld) to 3 years in prison for royal defamation after he was accused of placing a sticker saying “ku kult,” which is the logo for a political satire page, over the eyes of a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn in front of the Supreme Court while participating in a 19 September 2020 protest at Sanam Luang.

His sentence was later reduced to 2 years, as the Criminal Court ruled that the complaint he filed with Chana Songkhram Police Station over being followed by an undercover police officer was useful to the case.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported today (2 May) that the Court of Appeal overturned the Criminal Court’s ruling and dismissed the charge against Narin on the grounds that he was not wearing the same clothes as the man seen in photos of the incident and that, given the location of his residence, it was not possible for him to change before going to Chana Songkhram Police Station. The clothes were also not collected as evidence and so there is not enough evidence proving that Narin was the man in the photos.

The Court also ruled that the prosecution’s testimony that Narin admitted he put the sticker on the portrait is hearsay evidence, suspicious, and not favourable to the defendant. His alleged confession is also not in line with the facts, the Court ruled, since he was not immediately arrested and charged upon confessing and because he denied the charges during the inquiry and trial. Combined with the fact that he was not wearing the same clothes as the suspect, the Court ruled to give him the benefit of the doubt and dismissed the charge.