A 33-year-old Thai citizen has been indicted for royal defamation over a Facebook post regarding the death of King Rama VIII.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reported that Pipat Wisetchumpol, an agricultural products vendor from Buriram Province, was charged with royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act after he posted about the death penalty passed against three defendants over the death of King Rama VIII.

Pipat is merely an ordinary person who graduated with an engineering degree and relocated to his hometown in Buriram. He had occasionally participated in pro-democracy demonstrations, but he was not a leader.

The complaint was filed by Songchai Niamhom, leader of the ultra-royalist King Protection Group, known for filing royal defamation complaints across the southern provinces. In this case, Pipat had to travel from Buriram to Phatthalung to acknowledge the charges.

Songchai claimed that on 14 April 2023, he came across a Facebook post which questioned why the three defendants faced capital punishment. Pipat also allegedly criticised those whose actions caused the death of the three defendants. He denied all allegations.

The 20-year-old King Rama VII, or King Ananda Mahidol, was reportedly shot dead in the head on 9 June 1946. However, it has remained a mystery whether he committed suicide or was assassinated. Meanwhile, three palace officials were charged with murder and were later executed.

The public prosecutor concluded that the defendant defamed and insulted the late King Bhumibol and also defamed the reigning King Vajiralongkorn, who is the son of the late King.

The royal defamation law protects only the King, the Queen, the Heir-Apparent, or the Regent who currently hold those positions. Even though the Criminal Code must be strictly interpreted, royal defamation in many cases has been broadly interpreted to cover even deceased kings.

Pipat was later granted provisional bail with 100,000 baht as security.