Thai courts hand jail terms to lawmaker and musician for royal insults

Bangkok: Their attorneys said an activist musician who burned a portrait of the king and an opposition lawmaker for insulting the monarchy were given jail terms on Monday ( May 27 ).

A legal aid organization reported that a second monarchy-reform advocate, who had been on a limited hunger strike after being accused of harassing a royal parade and being charged with sedition, was granted parole from pre-trial confinement at a distinct reading.

The singer and the politician had broken with Thailand’s notoriously greatest law, which shields the country’s effective monarchy from criticism and imposes a 15-year jail term for each offense committed.

Chonthicha Jangrew, 31, a lawmaker with the Move Forward Party, received a two- time name for a statement made in 2021 at an pro- authorities protest. According to her attorney, Marisa Pidsaya, she had denied the charge and was being held on parole until an elegance.

Another judge sentenced singer Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan, 35, to four years in prison for burning a portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Chaiamorn, who was found guilty of fire, lese- guess, and system crimes, had likewise refuted the cost and claimed to have stomped out anger over the arrest of other activists on aristocratic insult charges.

Chaiamorn was even given bail and plans to charm, according to the legal aid organization Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

The authorities have not yet released information regarding the words. The palace typically does n’t make any changes to the law.

According to the legal aid organization Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, which gathers data and has successfully defended many of those accused, more than 272 citizens have been charged under the lese-majeste rules since 2020, and 17 are currently awaiting trial.

LEGAL Wars

In the next decision on Monday, a judge granted 22- year- ancient Tantawan” Tawan” Tuatulanon loan from pre- trail detention, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said.

After recording a live broadcast on her Facebook page where she and police were arguing as they blocked the way for a motorcade carrying Princess Sirindhorn, the sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, she was detained in February and charged with sedition and other violations. She has denied the charges.

According to the legal aid organization, she was later admitted to a hospital outside of jail earlier this month because of her ill-health.

A youth-led political movement that emerged in 2020 broke traditional taboos by calling for the monarchy’s reform and having previously criticized the royal motorcade traffic blocking.

Two weeks ago, activist Netiporn” Bung” Sanesangkhom died while awaiting trial on charges that included insulting royals. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, she had also been on a partial hunger strike.