The Supreme Court has upheld a prison sentence against a law student for royal defamation over a Facebook post about a protest in Germany against the Thai King.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reported that Aukit Santiprasitkul, a student at the Faculty of Law, Ramkhamhaeng University, was charged under the royal defamation law and the Computer Crime Act for sharing a Facebook post, originally made by the Facebook page John New World, which contained information about a protest in front of a hotel in Germany against King Vajiralongkorn.

He also added his message saying, ‘Well then, long live the King...to the fullest’.

The Court of First Instance initially ruled to sentence him to four years in prison, but due to his guilty plea, the term was reduced to two years in prison without suspension. The Court also granted him bail pending appeal.

The Appeal Court also upheld the two-year sentence, and the Supreme Court later ruled to uphold the initial verdict without suspension.

The complaint against him was filed by Siwapan Manitkul, who has filed at least nine royal defamation complaints against other citizens for social media posts.

This was Aukit’s second conviction under the royal defamation law. In a separate case, he faced a royal defamation charge for sharing a total of five Facebook posts related to members of the royal family. He was sentenced to 5 years and 30 months. Aukit has been detained since the verdict in this case was reached on 13 February 2024.

Despite filing eight bail requests, he has never been granted provisional bail.

Aukit was transferred from the Bangkok Remand Prison to the Bang Kwang Central Prison on 19 March 2025, following the Department of Corrections’ policy to make the Bangkok Remand Prison a hub for pre-trial detainees in all cases. As a result, inmates whose cases reached final verdicts are transferred to other prisons across the country.

In practice, it was found that such transfers were not limited to inmates with final convictions. Aukit is among the political prisoners whose cases are still pending appeal, but he was also transferred without a clear explanation.

In addition, Aukit is still a student at the Faculty of Law, Ramkhamhaeng University, and reportedly needs only three more courses to complete the degree. In May, he filed a petition with the Court to allow him to take exams. However, the Court refused, citing insufficient grounds.

Aukit also submitted two separate requests to the university to take exams in prison. However, both of the requests were rejected on the grounds that it would be unfair to other students.