Surachai Danwatthananusorn, a 71-year-old Red Siam faction leader convicted on five lèse majesté charges, was granted a royal pardon on Friday after having been imprisoned in Bangkok Remand Prison since February 22, 2011. 

 

He was sentenced to 12 years and six months for giving speeches deemed defaming to the monarchy at five different red shirt rallies in various provinces. In March last year, Surachai, together with eight other lèse majesté prisoners, submitted requests to the government for royal pardons. He was not granted bail during his imprisonment. 

 

Currently, four prisoners are publicly known convicted of lèse majesté, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code, remain imprisoned; Ekachai H., Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul and Papatchanan Ching-in or "Daeng Korat," the latest femal prisoner who was sentenced for three-year imprisonment.