The Appeal Court has sentenced former activist Phromsorn Viradhammajari to 2 years and 10 months in prison on a royal defamation charge over the 14 January 2021 protest demanding the release of a student activist who had been arrested.

Phromsorn is one of 9 activists charged with royal defamation and other charges over the protest, which took place in front of Khlong Luang Police Station to demand the release of Sirichai Natueng, then-student at Thammasat University, who was arrested that night on a royal defamation charge.

The 9 activists were charged with royal defamation because, during the protest, they threw dog food at a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn in front of the police station. The public prosecutor indicted them on the grounds that the action was offensive, noting that defamatory speeches were given and that a portrait of the King is a representation of the King himself. Their action is therefore defamatory towards the King, who should be respected.

Phromsorn pleaded guilty during the trial, so he was tried separately from the other activists. The Thanyaburi Provincial Court sentenced him on 3 March 2025 to 5 years and 8 months in prison for all charges, reduced to 2 years and 10 months because he pleaded guilty.

On Monday (9 March), the Appeal Court ruled to uphold the original verdict. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that the Appeal Court agreed with the Court of First Instance that the action was defamatory towards the King, and noted that, being 34 years old at the time, Phromsorn should have known it was offensive. It also said that his appeal that he has since changed his stance towards the monarchy and that he has to take care of his aging parents is not enough reason to suspend his sentence.

Phromsorn’s lawyer requested bail pending appeal with the Supreme Court. His bail request was forwarded to the Supreme Court. TLHR said yesterday (10 March) that the Supreme Court denied him bail. He is now detained at the Rangsit Temporary Prison, where detainees are quarantined for 7 days before they are moved to the Thanyaburi District Prison. He has also gone on a hunger strike to demand amnesty for political prisoners.