The Appeals Court on Thursday reduced a one-month prison term given to a Thammasat University lecturer for contempt of court to one month in detention, a less severe penalty.
In this case, Sudsa-nguan Suthisorn, of Thammasat Universty's faculty of social administration, was charged with contempt of court along with Darunee Kritboonyalai and Picha Wijitsilp, a lawyer for the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, for laying a wreath and holding up placards in front of the Civil Court on Feb 21, 2014, criticising the court's performance.
The Criminal Court adjourned the proceedings against Ms Darunee, who failed to show up to fight the case, and issued a warrant for her arrest.
It sentenced Sudsa-nguan and Picha to two months each in prison. Because of their confession, the court reduced the jail term by half to one month without suspension.
Picha died after the court delivered the verdict. Sudsa-nguan appealed.
The Appeals Court found no reason to suspend the one-month jail term because she had shown a serious contempt of court. However, the court reduced the one month jail term to one month in detention under custody - a lighter form of penalty she will serve outside a prison.
A number of UDD supporters gathered in front of the Civil Court, where the Appeals Court's ruling was read out, in a show of support for Sudsa-nguan.
Police from Phahon Yothin station and Metropolitan Police Divison 2 were deployed around the court to ensure law and order.