The appellate court in Chiang Rai has upheld a lese-majeste of a clothing vendor sentenced to a record 50 years and 6 months in prison, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
Mr. Mongkol Thirakot had earlier been sentenced to 28 years for lese-majeste, upheld on an appeal, to which the higher court added additional 22 years for a total of 50.
The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said this is by far the longest prison sentence ever given to a Lese Majeste defendant, referring to Article 112 of the Criminal Code that covers royal defamation.
The Court of Appeal upheld the earlier conviction by the Chiang Rai Provincial Court, finding Mr. Mongkol guilty of two counts of lese-majeste and one count of trespassing.
Mr. Mongkol watched the ruling, read out in the Chiang Rai Provincial Court, via a video link from the Chiang Rai Central Prison, where he has been detained since his arrest in April 2021.
His sentence surpassed that of another lese-majeste case where a former civil servant, who was ordered to serve 43 years and six months in prison for Lese Majeste.
Mr. Mongkol’s Lese Majeste charges came after he published 25 posts on Facebook critical of the monarchy. Over 10 days, he shared several videos from foreign sources containing material deemed harmful to the monarchy.
He told the court his post weren’t defamatory and they merely expressed his opposition to the crown in relation to politics. The Judge said his words were vulgar and disrespectful.
Section 112 enforces a minimum sentence of 3 years and a maximum sentence of 15 years for any act that defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, Heir-apparent or Regent.
According to data from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights 1,954 people have been prosecuted for political participation and expression since the beginning of the Free Youth protests in July 2020.
At least 272 are facing lese-majeste charges under Section 112 and 152 have been charged with sedition under Section 116.
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