The Court of Appeal has rejected People’s Party MP Chonthicha Jangrewan’s petition against a two-year jail term for lese majeste.
The ruling was read out in the Thanyaburi Provincial Court, in Pathum Thani province, on Tuesday morning.
The court upheld the provincial court’s judgement and two-year prison sentence handed down in May last year.
Ms Chonthicha, nicknamed Lookkate, was convicted of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, and the Computer Crime Act. Prosecutors told the court she posted messages on her Facebook page criticising the monarchy on Nov 8, 2020, and presented evidence.
She was on Tuesday allowed bail to take her case to the Supreme Court and in the meantime continue to serve as a member of parliament, according to internet law reform group iLaw.
According to the prosecution, Ms Chonthicha’s posts insulted the monarchy, incited social conflict and threatened national security. Ms Chonthicha denied the charges, arguing that her actions were protected under the constitutional right to free expression.
This sentence would be served consecutively with a two-year sentence previously imposed for a 2021 protest speech criticising former premier Prayut Chan-o-cha, bringing the total prison term to four years and eight months.