Activist-turned-MP Piyarat Chongthep from the People’s Party has been acquitted of a royal defamation charge stemming from a social media post in which he allegedly criticised the amount of taxpayer money spent on the monarchy while complaining about a police crackdown on a 31 December 2020 protest.

Piyarat was charged with royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act over a 31 December 2020 Facebook post in which he accused the Border Patrol Police of spreading COVID-19 in the country, causing damage to the shrimp farming businesses and the closure of shrimp markets. He also criticised their crackdown on a protest organised by the volunteer protest guard group We Volunteer or WeVo at Sanam Luang, which aimed to help farmers sell shrimp.

In his message allegedly referred to the use of taxpayers’ money by the monarchy.

According to the indictment, the public prosecutor concluded his claim that “ordinary people can starve to death because they don’t live happily on taxpayers’ money” might lead people to misunderstand that the monarchy was living in luxury on public money while the people were starving due to the spread of COVID-19.

The Activist-turned-MP denied all allegations.

On Tuesday (26 August), Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reported that the Criminal Court ruled to dismiss the charges against Piyarat. While the post existed and his email was verified, the Court determined that it was made at a time when the defendant was being taken to Border Patrol Police Region 1 headquarters in Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani.

While in custody, he was not allowed to use any electronic devices, speak with a lawyer or talk to anyone else. In addition, the Facebook page was administered by five people, and it was impossible to verify who made the post.

As it could not be proven that Piyarat posted the message himself, the Court gave him the benefit of the doubt.

This is one of three royal defamation cases against Piyarat. In the first, where he was accused of criticising the government’s Covid-19 vaccine procurement, he was acquitted. Another case, currently ongoing, involves a speech he gave at a 22 August 2020 protest in Ubon Ratchathani Province.