A 28-year-old from Mukdahan has been sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison on a royal defamation charge filed over a comment under a Facebook post featuring a picture of King Vajiralongkorn and his son Prince Dipangkorn.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that Singto (pseudonym) was arrested on 7 December 2022 on a warrant issued by the Nontaburi Provincial Court. The complaint against Singto was filed by Thitiwat Tanagaroon, a royalist who confronted pro-democracy protesters with a raised a portrait of the late King Bhumibol during a protest at Central Pinklao on 20 October 2020.  Thitiwat was later praised by the King while waiting with a crowd near the Grand Palace on 23 October 2020.

Thitiwat has previously filed royal defamation complaints against 2 other people, including Prasong Khotsongkhram, who was arrested on 8 July 2021 and was held in pre-trial detention for 27 days before being granted bail.

Singto intiially denied the charges, but pleaded guilty after being indicted in March 2023. On 27 November 2023, he was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison. His sentenced was reduced from 3 years because he pleaded guilty. He was granted bail pending appeal.

Last Thursday (19 February), the Appeal Court upheld the verdict sentencing him to 1 year and 6 months in prison. It ruled that the comment was damaging towards the monarchy, and that his sentence should not be reduced or suspended because he has an undergraduate degree and should be mature enough to know better. The original 3-year sentence is also the minimum sentence for royal defamation, which carries a penalty of 3-15 years in prison. Although he told the Court that he has a medical condition requiring treatment, the Court ruled that it is not a reason to suspend or reduce his sentence because his condition does not appear severe, his appointments were becoming further apart, and he could receive treatment from a correction hospital if imprisoned.

Singto’s lawyer filed for bail. His bail request was forwarded to the Supreme Court, which subsequently denied his request. He is now detained at the Nonthaburi Provincial Prison. 

According to TLHR, 34 people are now detained on a royal defamation charge, 16 of whom are detained pending trial or appeal.