Three activists have been found guilty of royal defamation and given suspended sentences over speeches given at a protest on 24 June 2021, after a judge ruled that defaming deceased kings also constituted an offence under the royal defamation law.

Wanwalee Thammasattaya, Benja Apan, and Kiattichai Tangpornpun were charged with royal defamation, violation of the Sound Amplifier Act and the Emergency Decree for organising the protest, which took place at the Pathumwan Skywalk to commemorate the 89^th anniversary of the 24 June 1932 Siamese Revolution.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reports that the South Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday (24 March) found Wanwalee and Benja guilty of all charges and Kiattichai guilty of royal defamation and violation of the Sound Amplifier Act. All three were given prison sentences of 3 years for royal defamation and fines of 200 baht for violating the Sound Amplifier Act. Wanwalee and Benja were also sentenced to 1 year in prison and fined 20,000 baht for violating the Emergency Decree.

Their prison sentences were subsequently suspended for 5 years. They were placed on 2 years of probation and ordered to meet with a probation officer 4 times per year. The judge suspended their sentences on the grounds that they should be given a chance to improve themselves as they committed their crimes while still in university and may have been lacking in knowledge and experience.

The Court found them guilty of royal defamation on the grounds that their speeches contained defamatory references to both the current and former kings.  According to the ruling, defaming deceased kings is as much of an offence under the royal defamation law as defaming the reigning king, as it also affects the standing of the reigning monarch.

Kiattichai did not appear in court. An arrest warrant was issued for him on 27 August 2024. The Court decided to try him in absentia.