A 53-year-old man has been sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison for royal defamation over his Facebook posts questioning the monarchy’s tax spending.

Meechai (last name withheld) was prosecuted under the royal defamation law and the Computer Crime Act for two 2020 FB posts questioning the monarchy’s tax spending, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

In one post, he questioned the need for state budgeting of the royal institution and in another, he wondered whether the money was well spent. The complaint was reported to the Bang Kaew Police Station in Samutprakan, causing Meechai to commute from another province to report himself. He was indicted in June 2021, the prosecutor stating that his FB posts potentially violated the royal defamation law.

Meechai admitted posting the messages but said that he intended to raise questions and discuss how the monarchy budget should be reduced for the benefit of the whole society. He insisted that it was sincere criticism, not defamation.

In 2022, he was found guilty as charged and sentenced to 4 years in prison. Due to his helpful testimony, his sentence was reduced to 2 years and 8 months.  He was bailed pending appeal.

When the Appeals Court ruled to uphold the initial verdict, Meechai decided to appeal to the Supreme Court. The judges did not allow the case to be appealed. He, therefore, was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months. On the same day, he was taken to the Samutprakan Central Prison.

According to Section 218 in the Criminal Procedure Code, in cases where the Appeals Court has upheld a verdict of the lower Court or modified it only slightly, and sentenced the accused to 5 years or less in prison, the accused has no right to appeal to the Supreme Court.

TLHR reported that Meechai resides in Chanthaburi Province. He is the breadwinner for his family, which includes his daughter, a university student, and his 83-year-old mother. Before he was taken to the court, he expressed his concern for his family.

Meechai’s punishment brings the total number of political detainees to at least 45 people, with 28 facing charges of royal defamation.