The Appeal Court has reduced Boonyuen Prasertying’s sentence to 2 years, after she appealed the original 6-year term. She is to be released in August 2010.
On 12 Oct, the Appeal Court commuted the sentence after an appeal filed on 22 Dec 2008. She is due to be released on 15 Aug 2010, as she has been detained since her arrest on 15 Aug 2008.
Boonyuen, 46, was convicted for lèse majesté on 6 Nov 2008. The Court at first handed down a penalty of 12 years in prison, but reduced it by half because she had pleaded guilty.
An arrest warrant against the red-shirt activist was issued on 15 Aug 2008, and she turned herself in to the police on that day. She was charged with offending the Heir Apparent in a public speech in a rally at Sanam Luang on 6 Aug 2008. She has been detained without bail ever since. She reportedly confessed to the charge out of fear.
Boonyuen was a junk dealer and fortune teller. She became active in politics after the coup in 2006. During her detention, her house and car, which she used to earn her income, were seized after she defaulted on her repayments.
Photo from http://www.pantip.com/cafe/rajdumnern/topic/P8546656/P8546656.html
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