Court indicts in PM parody case
The Bangkok Military Court yesterday accepted sedition and computer crime charges filed against eight administrators of a parody Facebook page of the prime minister.
Military prosecutors indicted Nuttigar Woratunyawit, 43, Harit Mahaton, 26, Noppakow Kongsuwan, 24, Worawit Saksamutnan, 32, Yothin Mangkungsanga, 37, Thanawat Buranasiri, 24, Supachai Saibut, 29, and Kunnasit Tungboonthina, 34, of being involved in making and disseminating commentary on the parody Facebook page “We Love Gen Prayuth”.
The government has said the page distorted information and stirred up conflicts in society.
The Military Court accepted the suit and will announce the hearing dates later, according to Winyat Chartmontri.
Mr Harit said he was not concerned about the indictment. “I have done nothing wrong and will defend my innocence throughout the hearings.”
The eight suspects were arrested in nearly simultaneous raids in Bangkok and Khon Kaen province on April 27 and were charged with sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code, which carries up to a seven-year sentence, and with violating the Computer Crime Act, which has up to a five-year jail term.
Ms Nuttigar and Mr Harit were earlier indicted under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, for Facebook comments considered to be offensive to the monarchy.
“It shouldn’t have happened as they were just exercising freedom of speech. In fact, the arrests were not made lawfully, raising questions over whether authorities exercised their power properly. Also, civilians shouldn’t be tried by military courts,” Mr Yinyat said.
After they were granted bail on the sedition charges, Mr Harit and Ms Nuttigar were detained again on lese majeste charges and later released on bail on July 8. The eight defendants were granted bail yesterday. Initially, they were detained for 12 days without bail.