A businessman arrested in late April for what he wrote on his Facebook has been denied bail, and his detention has been extended five times since his arrest.
The man, 37, whose name is withheld at the request of a family member, was arrested by the Department of Special Investigation on 29 April. He was accused of violating the lèse majesté law (Section 112 of the Criminal Code) and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act.
On 28 June, despite his lawyer’s opposition, the court extended his detention to 10 July at the request of the public prosecutor who has received the case from the DSI.
His family has twice asked for bail, offering bank accounts with 500,000 and 1,000,000 baht, but the court has refused, claiming that his offence was against the monarchy which is revered by the people and that the accused might flee.