Thai court adds 2 years 8 months to Arnon Nampa's lèse majesté sentence
BBC News reports a Bangkok court sentenced lawyer Arnon Nampa for a 2020 speech, bringing his cumulative sentence to more than 34 years under Article 112.
The story in focus
A Bangkok court sentenced Thai human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa to a further two years and eight months under the lèse majesté law for a 2020 speech calling for scrutiny of the monarchy, BBC News reported, bringing his cumulative sentence across cases to more than 34 years.
- The sentence was for violating Article 112, Thailand's lèse majesté law, over a Harry Potter-themed speech in Bangkok in 2020.
- It is one of 14 lèse majesté cases against Nampa; the verdicts in two other cases are still pending.
- BBC News says 294 people, including 20 under 18, have been prosecuted under Article 112 since the 2020 protests.
- Nampa told reporters the verdict was not a surprise and said a more open country would allow free discussion of such issues.
Court ruling and cumulative term
A Bangkok court on Friday sentenced Thai human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa to two years and eight months for violating Thailand's lèse majesté law, Article 112, BBC News reported. The charge stemmed from a 2020 speech at a Harry Potter-themed demonstration in central Bangkok in which he called for the monarchy to be scrutinised and held accountable.
The case is one of 14 brought against Nampa under the same law, and the court's sentence brings the cumulative total he has received so far to more than 34 years. Verdicts in two other cases are still pending, according to the report.
Prosecutions under Article 112
Article 112 provides for three to 15 years in prison for defaming, insulting or threatening the King, Queen, Heir-apparent or Regent. BBC News reported that most of those charged are denied bail and kept in jail while cases can last several years.
Since the 2020 student-led protests, 294 people, including 20 under the age of 18, have been prosecuted under the law, receiving sentences of up to 50 years. Dozens remain on trial, the report says.
After the verdict, Nampa told reporters the outcome was not a surprise and said that if the country were more open, these issues could be discussed freely.
What did Arnon Nampa say after the court's verdict?
BBC News reported that Nampa told reporters the verdict was not a surprise and that if the country were more open, people would be able to talk about these issues freely.
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