The Ratchadapisek Criminal Court and the South Bangkok Criminal Court have denied all bail requests filed for human rights lawyer Anon Nampa, who has been detained pending appeal on a royal defamation charge for almost two years.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said that, on 18 August, Anon’s 41^st birthday, his lawyer filed 7 bail requests for Anon on the grounds that he should be released to take care of his family and continue his work as a human rights lawyer, and because his health has declined during his detention and his release would allow him to seek medical attention.

The requests also noted that, as a human rights lawyer, Anon is a public figure with a lawful occupation and a permanent residence. He has been granted bail during his trials and has never violated his bail conditions. He was never a flight risk or resisted arrest, the requests said, noting that he willingly returned to Thailand after traveling to South Korea to receive an award. He has attended all of his hearings, showing his intention to fight his case in the Thai justice system.

Both courts forwarded the bail requests to the Appeal Court, which subsequently denied them on the grounds that Anon is a flight risk and that the Department of Corrections should be able to take care of him if he is sick.

Anon has been detained pending appeal at the Bangkok Remand Prison since 26 September 2023. For his activism, he faces a total prison sentence of 29 years and 1 months on 10 counts of royal defamation, 1 count of sedition, 1 count of violating the Emergency Decree, and 1 count of contempt of court.

TLHR said that Anon’s lawyers have made 73 attempts to request bail for him and have filed 22 appeals against bail denials. All requests have been denied.