The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction and prison sentence of activist Phromson Veerathamjaree in a case under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which concerns the lèse-majesté law.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, the Thanyaburi Provincial Court scheduled a hearing on Tuesday to read the appellate ruling in the case stemming from a protest held outside Khlong Luang police station in Pathum Thani on Jan 14, 2021.
The gathering had called for the release of activist Sirichai Nathueng, also known as "New", who had been arrested on charges under Section 112.
The Appeal Court upheld the lower court's ruling that Phromson was guilty on multiple charges, including lèse-majesté, insulting officials, unlawful assembly and violations of emergency regulations imposed during the pandemic.
The lower court initially imposed a combined prison sentence of five years and eight months, but reduced it to two years and 10 months after the defendant pleaded guilty. The court ruled that the sentence should not be suspended.
In its ruling, the Appeal Court said the case was serious. It noted that the defendant, who was 34 at the time of the incident, should have understood that his actions and statements during the protest were insulting to the monarchy, an institution respected by the public. The court also pointed out that the protest was broadcast online, allowing the statements to spread widely.
The court further said the offences were committed openly in front of police officers and without fear of the law, adding that the defendant had been involved in multiple similar cases.
