The Appeal Court has overturned a lower court ruling and found a 32-year-old man guilty of royal defamation for throwing paint at a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn at an expressway entrance in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret District.

Somphon, a former private company employee, was charged with royal defamation, destruction of public property, and violation of the Public Cleanliness Act for throwing red paint at a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn at an expressway entrance. The Nonthaburi Provincial Court had dismissed a royal defamation case against him on the grounds that he did not say anything or act in any way that is defamatory or a threat against the King. He was found guilty of destruction of public property and sentenced to 8 months in prison.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reported that on Friday 23 May, the Appeal Court ruled to overturn the Nonthaburi Provincial Court’s dismissal of the royal defamation case against Somphon. He was also found guilty under the Computer Crime Act for sending a photo of himself throwing paint at the portrait of King Vajiralongkorn to others via a social media application. The Appeal Court concluded that he intentionally undermined the King’s reputation.

Somphon was sentenced to 3 years for royal defamation and 3 years for violation of the Computer Crime Act. However, due to his helpful testimony, the term was reduced to 4 years in prison. The Appeal Court also dropped the charge related to the destruction of public property.

Somphon is facing charges in 5 cases in which he is accused of throwing paint at portraits of the King and one of spray-painting. The Courts of First Instance initially dismissed the royal defamation charge in all cases but sentenced him to prison for destruction of public property.

However, there are now 4 cases in which the Appeal Court has ruled to overturn the initial verdict and found him guilty of royal defamation. Somphon is now facing 15 years and 18 months imprisonment.