A 43-year-old former private company employee has been found guilty of royal defamation and sentenced to 20 years in prison over social media posts made in January 2022.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Phruetthikon Sarakun was accused of posting on a Facebook account called “ศักดินาปรสิต” (“Parasitic feudalism”) and a Twitter account called “Guillotine Activists for Democracy.” He was charged with royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act for 5 Facebook posts and 5 Tweets.

The complaint against him was made by Pol Lt Col Kanchit Seeharod of the Special Branch who TLHR says has been working on monarchy-related issues.

Last Thursday (18 December), the Criminal Court found Phruetthikon guilty and sentenced him to 30 years in prison. His sentence was later reduced by a third to 20 years. The verdict was delivered without Phruetthikon present on the grounds that it was read to his lawyer.

Phruetthikon was tried in absentia as he did not come to court for witness examination. After he missed the first hearing, the Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant and postponed the hearing. Despite objections from his lawyer, the court insisted on going ahead with witness examination without him on the grounds that he came to the evidence examination hearing, had already made his plea, and that his lawyer was present.

TLHR noted that the Court did not allow a defence witness to testify, claiming that the defence did not say the person was an expert witness and so the Court and the prosecution could not check their credibility.

The defence requested that the Criminal Court file a petition with the Constitutional Court to rule whether it is unconstitutional to allow in absentia trials when the defendant does not appear in court. The Constitutional Court ruled on 30 September 2025 that the related sections in the Criminal Procedure Code are in line with the Constitution.