Thai Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Lawmaker Over Monarchy Defamation

A Thai appeals court on Tuesday upheld a two-year prison sentence for Chonthicha Jangrew, a lawmaker from the progressive People’s Party, for defaming the monarchy in a 2021 speech. The court granted her bail set at 150,000 baht ($4,600), allowing her to remain in Parliament pending a Supreme Court appeal. Chonthicha, a former pro-democracy activist, was convicted for alleging government actions increased the king’s powers, a charge under the strict lese majeste law that carries up to 15 years in prison.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale